Artwork
Joanna Hefferman, "La Belle Irlandaise"
Joanna Hefferman, "La Belle Irlandaise" is a print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1866, “La Belle Irlandaise” is a print produced by the American-born artist James McNeill Whistler. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among the museum’s holdings of 19th‑century prints.
Technique & Style
The piece exemplifies Whistler’s early printmaking practice, employing the tonal qualities of etching and drypoint to render a subtle gradation of light and shadow. The composition reflects the artist’s interest in atmospheric effects and a restrained palette, hallmarks of his mature aesthetic.
History & Provenance
First issued in the mid‑1860s, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the 20th century, though the exact path of ownership prior to its museum purchase is not fully documented. Its presence in the museum underscores the institution’s commitment to representing Whistler’s print oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
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