The Doctor
Medium
lithograph in black on laid paper
Dimensions
image: 17.8 × 13 cm (7 × 5 1/8 in.) sheet: 21.8 × 19.5 cm (8 9/16 × 7 11/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.8737
Art Historical Context
James McNeill Whistler’s *The Doctor* (1894) is a striking lithograph in black ink on laid paper, capturing artist’s mastery of subtle tones and form in a compact image measuring just 17.8 × 13 cm. Created during Whistler’s later career, this print reflects his deep commitment to Aestheticism—the belief that art should exist for its beauty alone, prioritizing harmony of color and composition over narrative. Whistler, an American expatriate in London, revolutionized printmaking in the late 19th century, drawing from Japanese influences and Realism to create evocative, atmospheric works. Lithog...
About the Artist
James McNeill Whistler · 1834–1903
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) was an American-born painter and printmaker who became a leading figure in the Aesthetic Movement and pioneer of Tonalism and Japonisme. He revolutionized art by championing "art for art's sake" and treating paintings as visual equivalents of musical compositions, titling works as "arrangements," "harmonies," and "nocturnes" to emphasize formal qualities o...