Artwork
The Traghetto, No.II
The Traghetto, No.II 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. Created in 1880, *The Traghetto, No.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1880, *The Traghetto, No. II* is an etching and drypoint executed on laid paper. The work belongs to the mature phase of James McNeill Whistler’s career while he was based in London, a period marked by his focus on tonal harmony and compositional balance rather than narrative detail.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a tranquil waterway scene: a gondola glides through calm water, its interior rendered in deep shadow while the surrounding sky and water are depicted in lighter tones. A gondolier stands at the rear of the boat and a passenger occupies the front seat, suggesting a quiet, everyday moment rather than a dramatic episode.
Technique & Style
Whistler combines traditional etching with drypoint, allowing for fine, delicate lines and subtle tonal variations. The contrast between the dark interior of the gondola and the luminous water surface is achieved through careful manipulation of line density and the soft burr of the drypoint needle, producing a nuanced texture that conveys both depth and atmospheric light.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during Whistler’s involvement with the aesthetic movement, a circle that emphasized visual harmony over moralizing content. It bears his characteristic butterfly monogram, confirming its authenticity as an original impression from his workshop.
Context
*The Traghetto, No. II* reflects Whistler’s ongoing fascination with waterways, a theme that appears in his depictions of both the Thames and Venetian canals. The work aligns with his broader aim to create images that function as visual symphonies, where line, tone, and composition are orchestrated for balance rather than storytelling.
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.
Arrangement in Black, No. 3: Sir Henry Irving as Philip II of Spain
Arrangement in Flesh Colour and Black: Portrait of Theodore Duret
Gold and Brown: Self-Portrait
Edward Guthrie Kennedy
Harmony in Yellow and Gold: The Gold Girl—Connie Gilchrist
George W. Vanderbilt
Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl
Henry Irving as Philip II of Spain
