Cottage Door

c. 1884/1886

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The sketch features a full-body depiction of a person standing, with another figure faintly visible in the background. The standing figure is slightly off-center to the right, with one foot in front of the other. The facial features are not detailed, but the figure is facing forward with short, possibly curly hair or a brim of a hat. The figure is wearing a long, loose coat. Another figure is seen sitting or crouching lower to the ground towards the center bottom of the image. The background is roughly sketched and may represent a wall or structure to the right, with shadowing behind the figures and loose hatching to depict texture or shadows on the ground. No jewelry or held objects are visible on the individuals.

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 in dark brown on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (trimmed to plate): 6.6 × 9.9 cm (2 5/8 × 3 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8569

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 252, state i/ii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Listed by E. G. Kennedy as owned by Howard Mansfield [1849-1938], New York, 1910. H. Wunderlich & Co., New York (stock no. a 15165). (Knoedler & Co., New York, stock no. MK 32561). Bought November 26, 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. 250, i/ii.

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. 252, state i/ii.

Inscriptions

on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp [sic]; lower left on verso: a 15165. or A 18165; MK 32561

Wikidata ID

Q65021985

You may be interested in

Loading Results