Dry-Dock, Southampton

1887

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image is viewed from a low vantage point, with the water's edge closest to us forming the bottom of the composition. In the distance, the horizon line is occupied by an arrangement of simple structures, possibly buildings along a waterfront, with a prominent ship to the right. The brushstrokes and etching lines are delicate and detailed, sketching out forms with a light touch. The color palette consists of a muted, sepia tone on aged paper. The sky above is lightly sketched with sparse cloud details, providing a subtle balance between the water and the horizon line.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and drypoint on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (trimmed to plate): 6.5 × 17.6 cm (2 9/16 × 6 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8609

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 302, state i/ii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Knoedler & Co., New York). Purchased November 10, 1928 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. 322.

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. 302, state i/ii.

Inscriptions

on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp;

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q65022025

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