Nocturne

1878/1887

James McNeill Whistler

Associated Names
James McNeill Whistler

Artist, American, 1834 - 1903

The image depicts a misty landscape viewed from an elevated perspective. The horizon shows a soft silhouette of a cityscape with recognizable structures such as spires and domed buildings blending into the sky. The brushstrokes are gentle and blurred, giving the scene a dreamlike quality. The color palette consists mainly of muted grays and soft blacks. A lone figure in a small boat drifts quietly on calm waters. Mist further softens any reflections or details in the scene. In the distance, buildings are bathed in subtle lighting, enhancing the atmospheric effect.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

Associated Artworks

See all 5 artworks
This is a photograph of a book cover. The cover is plain with a neutral brown color. It features the centered title "NOTES." in uppercase, followed by the name "J. McNEILL WHISTLER" and a small floral or decorative motif below. The paper appears aged, showing a simple and classic typographic layout.

Notes

James McNeill Whistler

1878

The image depicts a bridge seen from below, emphasizing its structure and supports. The horizon is blocked by the bridge, with a tree and distant buildings visible to the left. Loose pencil lines convey movement and roughness in the depiction. A monochromatic color palette of gray against a light background gives the image a soft impact. People are walking on the bridge, and there are indications of water movement near the supports. A tower or tall building can be seen in the far distance.

Old Battersea Bridge

James McNeill Whistler

1879

This is a drawing of an architectural street scene. The drawing depicts the facade of a grand building with arched windows and an ornate central doorway. There are a few figures suggested in front of the building. The use of light ink or pencil lines on a plain background gives the drawing a subtle, airy quality.

Victoria Club

James McNeill Whistler

1879

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Nesta Spink, Ann Arbor, MI); purchase and exchange 1992, NGA

Associated Names

Bibliography

1896

  • Way, Thomas Robert. Mr. Whistler's Lithographs: The Catalogue. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1896; New York: H. Wunderlich & Co., 1905, no. 5.

1998

  • Stratis, Harriet K., and Martha Tedeschi, eds. The Lithographs of James McNeill Whistler, vol. 1. Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 1998, pp. 63-66, no. 8, ii/ii.

Inscriptions

lower right in plate: [the artist's butterfly]; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: 1/5

Wikidata ID

Q75119988

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