The image depicts a harbor scene with various ships and boats on the water. The perspective is from slightly above, showing the water filled with vessels. Tall masts of sailboats obscure most of the horizon. The sketch-like style is characterized by soft etching, creating a sense of detail through overlapping lines. The color scheme is monochrome, with varying shades of gray to black on an off-white background. Larger boats are in the foreground, leading the eye towards smaller vessels in the distance. Industrial structures are visible along the shoreline in the background.
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The image depicts a harbor scene with various ships and boats on the water. The perspective is from slightly above, showing the water filled with vessels. Tall masts of sailboats obscure most of the horizon. The sketch-like style is characterized by soft etching, creating a sense of detail through overlapping lines. The color scheme is monochrome, with varying shades of gray to black on an off-white background. Larger boats are in the foreground, leading the eye towards smaller vessels in the distance. Industrial structures are visible along the shoreline in the background.

National Gallery of Art · Print

A Sketch from Billingsgate

James McNeill Whistler

Date
1878
Medium
drypoint on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 14.92 x 22.54 cm (5 7/8 x 8 7/8 in.) sheet: 20.96 x 34.29 cm (8 1/4 x 13 1/2 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1943.3.8503
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-W

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • Ship
  • Water
  • City
Provenance

T.W. Walker. (not in Lugt). Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to NGA, 1943.

Inscription

lower left on recto by Harold Wright: Whistler. / K168i Sketch from Billingsgate; lower right on recto: of I ; lower right on recto by Seymour Haden?: 1st state-; lower right on recto: B.322; upper left on recto: ?;lower centre on verso: 19; lower right on verso: Whistler / Haden (Haden erased)

Watermarks

Beehive DEDB [?]

NGA object ID 11000. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.