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The image shows a street scene with a building. The view is straight on, showing various architectural details. There is a horizontal structure at the top suggesting part of a building. The drawing technique uses fine and sketchy lines for texture and definition. Figures are depicted loosely, with one standing on the left and a group conversing in the center. In the background, more figures are near a storefront labeled "W. Jones." The color scheme is monochrome, with dark lines on a light background.
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The image shows a street scene with a building. The view is straight on, showing various architectural details. There is a horizontal structure at the top suggesting part of a building. The drawing technique uses fine and sketchy lines for texture and definition. Figures are depicted loosely, with one standing on the left and a group conversing in the center. In the background, more figures are near a storefront labeled "W. Jones." The color scheme is monochrome, with dark lines on a light background.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Bird-Cages Chelsea

James McNeill Whistler

Date
c. 1886/1888
Medium
etching and drypoint on laid paper
Dimensions
overall (trimmed to plate): 15.2 × 22.8 cm (6 × 9 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1943.3.8585
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • Building
  • Figures
Provenance

(Knoedler & Co., New York). Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to National Gallery of Art, 1943.  

Inscription

on plate: (butterfly); on board above shop at right: W. JONES; on window: 2; on newspaper advertising board: AMBER; on tab: (butterfly) imp; on verso lower left: MK 30675; on verso, lower center: Bird Cages - Chelsea; lower right: 198

Watermarks

Eagle with Basel Crozier

NGA object ID 11082. 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.