Artwork
Price's Candle-Works
Price's Candle-Works is a print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1876 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
James McNeill Whistler’s print titled “Price’s Candle‑Works” dates from 1876 and is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image presents a linear arrangement of industrial structures along a riverbank, each capped with a tall chimney, while a modest boat drifts near the shore.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment of quiet industry, emphasizing the relationship between built forms and the water that reflects them. By concentrating on the silhouette of the factories and the solitary vessel, the work suggests a contemplative mood, inviting viewers to consider the interplay of human activity and the surrounding landscape.
Technique & Style
Executed in a loose, sketch‑like manner, the print relies on fluid lines rather than meticulous detail. Whistler foregrounds the effects of light and shadow across the façades, using tonal contrast to convey atmosphere. This approach aligns with the broader 19th‑century interest in rendering mood through tonal modulation rather than precise representation.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑1870s, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are not recorded in the source). Its presence in the museum’s collection reflects the institution’s commitment to representing American printmaking of the period.
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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