Artwork

Two Sketches of Landscape Pictures hung at the Society of British Artists

Two Sketches of Landscape Pictures hung at the Society of British Artists is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist James McNeill Whistler. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1887, the work consists of two small graphite sketches on laid paper.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1887, the work consists of two small graphite sketches on laid paper. Both images depict simplified landscape views—a gentle hill with trees in one, and a rugged shoreline in the other—rendered with swift, loose lines that suggest the appearance of finished paintings when displayed side by side.

Subject & Meaning

The drawings function as visual studies rather than narrative scenes, illustrating Whistler’s interest in the arrangement of pictorial elements. By presenting two contrasting vistas together, they explore compositional balance and the tonal harmony that would later inform his larger oil works.

Technique & Style

Executed with graphite on a textured, light‑colored paper, the sketches employ a delicate, almost improvisational line. The rapid, gestural strokes convey form with minimal detail, reflecting Whistler’s preference for tonal subtlety and his “art for art’s sake” aesthetic.

History & Provenance

James Abbott McNeill Whistler, an American-born artist who spent most of his career in Britain, produced these studies during a period when he was actively exhibiting at the Society of British Artists. The pieces remain documented as preparatory works for potential exhibition arrangements.

Context

At the time, Whistler was aligning himself with the aesthetic movement, emphasizing visual pleasure over storytelling. These sketches exemplify his practice of using quick drawings to plan the visual impact of paintings intended for public display.

Artist & collection

Artist

James McNeill Whistler

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.