Dipping the Flag

1887

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image features a harbor scene with ships in the distance. The horizon is positioned towards the top third of the image and shows the water in between. The drawing style includes fine lines and minimal strokes to depict the sails and masts intricately. The color palette is limited to natural tones of paper and dark ink, creating a detailed visual impact. Closest to the viewer is a partial view of a ship's prow, indicating a nearby boat, contrasting with the distant ships on the horizon. The image conveys a sense of calmness and openness in the water, with subtle line work suggesting gentle ripples.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint in dark brown on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (trimmed to plate): 8 × 17.6 cm (3 1/8 × 6 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8610

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 308, state i/iv

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, stock no. a 65798). Purchased November 7, 1929 by Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to National Gallery of Art, 1943.  

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1931

  • Etchings, Lithographs, Original Drawings, and Autograph Letters by James A. McNeill Whistler, The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1931.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 325.

2012

  • MacDonald, Margaret F., Grischka Petri, Joanna Meacock.James McNeill Whistler: The Etchings, a catalogue raisonné. University of Glasgow on-line website at http://etchings.arts.gla.ac.uk. University of Glasgow, 2012, no. 308, state i/iv.

Inscriptions

on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp; lower left on verso: a 65798; 5149/225 [or 5140/ 225]; lower right corner on verso: 3ws [or 3m5']; in semicircle at lower right on the verso: 148

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65022026

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