Swan and Iris (sketch after Cecil Lawson's "Swan and Iris")

Art Historical Context

Behold the exquisite *Swan and Iris (sketch after Cecil Lawson's "Swan and")*, a 1883 etching and drypoint by James McNeill Wh, inspired by the painting of British artist Cecil Gordon Lawson. intimate print captures the graceful curve of a swan amid blooming irises, evoking London's natural elegance through delicate lines and subtle tonal harmonies. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings Prints department, it reflects Whistler's fascination with fleeting beauty and his nod to a contemporary peer. Printed in black ink on medium-weight ivory laid paper, this fourth state of six from the Glasgow edition showcases Whistler's virtuoso technique. Etching involves biting lines into a metal plate with acid, while drypoint adds velvety burrs from direct scratching—creating rich textures and depth in small dimensions (plate: 5¼ × 3¼ in.). These progressive states allowed Whistler to refine his vision, a hallmark of his innovative printmaking during the Aesthetic movement. As a tribute-like homage, the work bridges Victorian naturalism and Whistler's tonal modernism, inviting viewers to savor its poetic serenity. A gem from the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund (1917), it celebrates swans and flowers as timeless symbols of grace.

About the Artist

Cecil Gordon Lawson|James McNeill Whistler (American|British) · 1834 |1849 –1903 |1882

American, Lowell, Massachusetts 1834–1903 London|British, Wellington, Shropshire 1849–1882 London