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This is a drawing of a darkened interior space with a figure holding a baby in front of a row of cages. The drawing depicts a sketched interior scene where a figure holds a smaller figure against a backdrop of a wall lined with cages. Above, a row of cages is visible, each containing abstract forms that could be animals or birds. The line work is loose and sketchy, giving an incomplete impression. The scene captures a moment of quiet and mystery, emphasized by heavy shadows and minimal detailing.
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This is a drawing of a darkened interior space with a figure holding a baby in front of a row of cages. The drawing depicts a sketched interior scene where a figure holds a smaller figure against a backdrop of a wall lined with cages. Above, a row of cages is visible, each containing abstract forms that could be animals or birds. The line work is loose and sketchy, giving an incomplete impression. The scene captures a moment of quiet and mystery, emphasized by heavy shadows and minimal detailing.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Bird-Cages, Drury Lane

James McNeill Whistler

Date
c. 1886/1888
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
overall (trimmed to plate): 12.5 × 9.6 cm (4 15/16 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1943.3.8587
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • architecture
  • Street
  • Door
  • Mother and Child
  • Building
Provenance

(Knoedler & Co., New York). Purchased October 29, 1928 by Lessing Julius Rosenwald [1891-1971], Philadelphia, (Lugt 1760b); gift to National Gallery of Art, 1943.

Inscription

on plate: (butterfly); on tab: (butterfly) imp; lower right on the verso, possibly by Whistler: Birdcages-; on verso lower right: Drury Lane

Watermarks

none

NGA object ID 11084. 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.