Black Lion Wharf

1859

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image depicts a harbor scene with a variety of maritime activities. In the foreground, a figure in a mariner's outfit leans on a wooden rail. To the right, two individuals are rowing a small boat. Larger ships are docked in the background, with ropes and sails visible. Buildings and signs populate the horizon, suggesting a commercial area. The artwork uses a detailed etching technique with a warm monochromatic color palette, evoking history and classicism. The scene is intricate and detailed, capturing the essence of the bustling harbor.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 15.24 x 22.23 cm (6 x 8 3/4 in.)
    sheet: 21.59 x 30.48 cm (8 1/2 x 12 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.9104

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    MacDonald 2012, no. 54, state ii/iv

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to National Gallery of Art, 1943.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1963

  • American Artists as Print Makers, Westmoreland County Museum of Art, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, 1963, no. 205.

Bibliography

1910

  • Kennedy, Edward G. The Etched Work of Whistler. New York: Grolier Club, 1910, no. 42.

2012

  • MacDonald, Margaret, Grischka Petri, Meg Hausberg, and Joanna Meacock. James McNeill Whistler: The Etchings, A Catalogue Raisonné. Scotland: University of Glasgow, 2012, no. 54, ii/iv. http://etchings.arts.gla.ac.uk

Inscriptions

lower right in plate: Whistler. 1859.

Wikidata ID

Q65022221

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