The Fish-Shop, Busy Chelsea

1887

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

This is a drawing of a street scene featuring buildings with storefronts. The artwork captures a row of three-story buildings with awnings over some of the doorways. The upper floors show windows, some open, allowing a peek into the interiors. The focus is on the lower level, where awnings suggest commercial activity. The storefront on the left appears inset with a small group gathered. The central and right sections of the facade similarly indicate bustling activity, with a canopy overhang shading individuals. Fine lines and loose sketchwork give the piece an impressionistic feel. The facade shows weathered textures, adding character to the architecture, evocative of a busy urban environment.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (trimmed to plate): 13.8 × 21.5 cm (5 7/16 × 8 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8579

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 267, state i/ii


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

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. 264, 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. 267, state i/ii.

Inscriptions

on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp; by later hands from lower left to lower center on the verso: "Fish Shop. Busy Chelsea". Rare 1st State. (the 'st' superscript); lower right on the verso: (D0 773) 12oo-

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65021996

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