The Little Mast
1879/80
Medium
Etching and drypoint with foul biting in black ink on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image, trimmed within platemark: 26.5 × 18.7 cm (10 7/16 × 7 3/8 in.); Sheet: 27 × 18.7 cm (10 11/16 × 7 3/8 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
80134
Art Historical Context
James McNeill Whistler, leading figure in the Aesthetic movement, created *The Little Mast* around 1879–80 his transformative trip to Venice. Exiled from London after his infamous libel trial against critic John Ruskin, Wh sought inspiration in the city's shimmering canals and misty atmospheres. This etching captures the essence of Venetian life—likely a quiet harbor scene with a solitary mast—reflecting his shift toward subtle, evocative prints that prioritized mood over narrative detail. Whistler's mastery shines in his innovative use of etching and drypoint on ivory laid paper. Etching cre...
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...