Artwork
The Tiny Pool
The Tiny Pool is an ink print by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1877 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Tiny Pool is a print created by James McNeill Whistler in 1877 using etching and drypoint techniques on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene harbor scene with anchored ships, a small boat, and two figures on a dock. The loose, sketchy lines convey a sense of calmness and immediacy.
Technique & Style
Whistler employed etching and drypoint to achieve a range of tonal values and textures. The techniques allowed for expressive, rough marks that contribute to the print's unfinished quality.
Context
Whistler was a proponent of 'art for art's sake,' rejecting sentimental and moral themes in his work. His refined approach to composition and mark-making is evident in The Tiny Pool.
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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