Artwork
Longshoremen
Longshoremen is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Longshoremen is a print created by James McNeill Whistler in 1859, combining etching and drypoint techniques on green laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a group of laborers in a crowded, dimly lit port setting, engaged in their work amidst barrels and crates. The scene is rendered with an emphasis on the workers' physical postures and everyday activities.
Technique & Style
Whistler employed etching and drypoint to achieve a range of line qualities, from refined to rough and scratchy. The use of drypoint created jagged lines, while the green tint of the paper adds a distinctive tone to the work.
Context
Whistler, an American artist working primarily in the UK, was known for his technical precision and focus on aesthetic qualities in his prints, often eschewing narrative or moral themes.
Own this work as a print
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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