Artwork
Portrait of Whistler with the White Lock
Portrait of Whistler with the White Lock is a print by the Impressionist artist Mortimer Menpes. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1880, this print by Mortimer Menpes depicts a solitary figure with a distinctive white lock of hair. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of late‑19th‑century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown from the shoulders upward, his gaze meeting the viewer with a calm, neutral expression. A white lock crowns his otherwise dark, curly hair, and a full moustache frames his face. The composition suggests a moment of quiet reflection, inviting contemplation of the individual’s inner state.
Technique & Style
Menpes employs strong chiaroscuro, contrasting a dark, shadowed background with the illuminated skin and white shirt of the subject. The high‑collared shirt, with sleeves rolled to the elbows, is rendered in crisp lines, while the play of light and shade gives the figure a three‑dimensional presence.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the early 1880s, a period when Menpes was active in both painting and printmaking. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, though the precise path of ownership prior to its museum entry is not documented in the available records.
Artist & collection
