Square canister with expanding neck
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1907.177
Tags
About this artwork
To 1907
Art Historical Context
James McNeill Whistler (4–1903), the celebrated American-born artist known for his pioneering role in the Aesthetic movement, *Square Canister with Expanding Neck* in1878. This delicate drawing captures the artist's fascination with form and subtle elegance, likely a study of an everyday vessel—perhaps inspired by his deep interest in Japanese art and, which profoundly influenced his work during this period. Whistler's style emphasized "art for art's sake," prioritizing harmonious lines and tonal balance over narrative, making even utilitarian objects like this canister a subject of refined be...