Artwork
Old Battersea Bridge
Old Battersea Bridge is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Old Battersea Bridge is a 1883 lithograph by James Abbott McNeill Whistler, an American artist active in Britain. The print is executed in black ink on wove paper and features a serene depiction of a London river crossing.
Subject & Meaning
The lithograph shows an old wooden bridge on the Thames, with people standing or sitting on it. The scene is characterized by simplicity and elegance, with a focus on formal arrangement rather than narrative content, reflecting Whistler's 'art for art's sake' principle.
Technique & Style
Whistler employed lithography to create a delicate, textured image with bold lines and minimal shading. The technique adds depth to the composition, which is marked by a calm atmosphere and quiet contemplation. The artist's distinctive butterfly signature is present on the sheet.
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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