The Traghetto, No.I

1879/1880

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image shows a courtyard scene with an archway leading deeper into the space. The perspective is from the front looking through the archway into the enclosed courtyard. The composition focuses on the arch and surrounding walls. The etching has varied delicate brushstrokes with cross-hatching for texture, particularly under the arch. The artwork uses a monochrome color palette, primarily gray, for light and shadow contrasts. There is a paved floor leading under the arch, and a tree with sparse leaves reaching upward. The walls have windows with cross-hatched panes, and the interior walls enclose the courtyard.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Accession Number

    1949.5.548

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 231, state i/iv

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Probably sold by Whistler to H. Wunderlich & Co., New York, 1892, stock no. a 21333). Howard Mansfield [1849-1938], New York, (Lugt 1342); Harris Whittemore [1864-1927], Naugatuck, CT; (his sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 18 January 1949, lot 239); (Charles Sessler, Philadelphia, PA); purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald, Jenkintown, PA, 1949; gift to the NGA, 1949.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 190, i/iii.

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. 231, state i/iv.

Inscriptions

on plate: [butterfly]; on tab: first proof butterfly imp.; by later hand: perhaps only impression of first state. The plate was destroyed and a new etching made of the subject. H.M.

Watermarks

partial Strasbourg Lily / VGZ (Chicago watermarks 292 and 293)

Wikidata ID

Q65077035

You may be interested in

Loading Results