Arrangement in Black - No.3

1881

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image depicts a sketch of a woman shown from head to toe, standing in a confident pose. The woman's head is slightly turned to the left, facing forward. She has delicately drawn facial features, short hair framing her face, and is wearing a long black gown with a deep neckline. A light-colored wrap or scarf drapes around her arms and shoulders. She is holding a part of her outfit. There is no visible jewelry. The background has sketchy cross-hatching and lines, creating a textured effect. The sketch is labeled "Arrangement in Black, No 3" beneath the figure.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    graphite, pen and brown ink on off-white laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 17.8 × 11.4 cm (7 × 4 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.8817

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 1995, no. 851

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.

1994

  • James McNeill Whistler, Tate Gallery, London; Musée d'Orsay, Paris; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994-1995, no. 125, as Arrangement in Black - No.3.

Bibliography

1994

  • James McNeill Whistler. Exh. cat. Tate Gallery, London; Musée d'Orsay, Paris; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994-1995: no. 125.

1995

  • MacDonald, Margaret F. James McNeill Whistler: Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours: A Catalogue Raisonné. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 1995, no. 851.

Inscriptions

center left in brown ink: butterfly signature; across bottom in pen and brown ink: Arrangement in Black- No. 3; lower right in graphite: butterfly signature added later (c.1890); lower right in graphite by unknown hand: 3588.; lower left verso in graphite by unkown hand: a61268

Markings

center left verso in black ink: Lessing J. Rosenwald stamp; center verso in blue ink: NGA/LJR stamp

Wikidata ID

Q64580660

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