James Abbott McNeill Whistler
(American, 1834–1903)
The Doorway, from the First Venice Set
Object Details
Artist
James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Date
1879/1880
Medium
Etching and drypoint on laid paper
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 11 1/2 × 7 7/8 inches (29.2 × 20 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of William P. Chapman, Jr., Class of 1895
Object
Number
57.241
In his Venetian views, Whistler often employed a central void as the primary focus. Here the eye is (…)
In his Venetian views, Whistler often employed a central void as the primary focus. Here the eye is drawn to a darkened interior surrounded by an elaborate architectural facade. The interior is a carpenter’s workshop with chairs hanging above, materials stacked or leaning about, and people working. In contrast, the elegant, even extravagant architectural details are of a Renaissance palazzo whose previous life is long faded. This is one of Whistler’s most complex Venetian prints—in all, it went through twenty states as the artist altered the number, age, and placement of the figures. His constant, however, is the woman on the steps, who provides the connection from the canal’s water to the interior space.
(“The Touch of the Butterfly: Whistler and His Influence,” curated by Nancy E. Green and presented at the Johnson Museum August 4-December 16, 2018)
