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The image shows sailboats on a body of water. The viewpoint is slightly elevated, showing a wide scene with an implied horizon. The lines are delicate and sketch-like, depicting water and sails with minimal detail. The color palette is monochromatic with shades of black on a light sepia background. Faint architectural elements are suggested in the distance.
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The image shows sailboats on a body of water. The viewpoint is slightly elevated, showing a wide scene with an implied horizon. The lines are delicate and sketch-like, depicting water and sails with minimal detail. The color palette is monochromatic with shades of black on a light sepia background. Faint architectural elements are suggested in the distance.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Boats, Dordrecht

James McNeill Whistler

Date
1884
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 6.5 × 9.8 cm (2 9/16 × 3 7/8 in.) sheet: 12 × 15.7 cm (4 3/4 × 6 3/16 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1943.3.8568
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • Ship
  • Harbor
  • Water
  • Boat
Provenance

Bought on 17 May 1927 by Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to National Gallery of Art, 1943.  

Inscription

on plate: (butterfly); on verso: (title)

Watermarks

none

NGA object ID 11065. 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.