James McNeill Whistler (Lowell, Massachusetts, 1834 - 1903, London, England)
The Wine Glass, about 1859
Etching on japanese gampi paper, 8.3 x 5.7 cm (3 1/4 x 2 1/4 in.)
This small, rectangular etching is a still life with a wine glass on a tray. The background is dark; the shading is formed by the application of dense hatch marks in black ink, both vertically and horizontally. The darkness fades out a bit on the top and side to our right. The wine glass has a wide, shallow bowl. A source of light coming in from our left is evident in the glass bowl. The bowl rests on a small circular base, a slightly tapered stem, and a circular bottom. The glass rests on a silver footed tray with a scalloped rim. One of the feet is visible in the foreground. The tray rests on a light surface marked with several horizontal lines, widely spaced. In the lower corner to our left is the artist’s signature.
Short Gallery
Commentary
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