Artwork
Nocturne: Salute
Nocturne: Salute is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Nocturne: Salute is a print created by James McNeill Whistler in 1880, using etching and drypoint techniques on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a nighttime cityscape with a hazy atmosphere, featuring a few indistinct buildings and a prominent dome-shaped structure. Whistler's focus on tonal harmony and atmospheric effects takes precedence over narrative detail, reflecting his 'art for art's sake' principle.
Technique & Style
Whistler employed quick, scratchy lines to convey movement and light, characteristic of his drypoint technique. The brown ink on the textured, aged paper creates a distinctive visual effect, while his signature butterfly mark adds a touch of delicacy and subtlety.
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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