Soupe à Trois Sous (Soup for three sous [pennies])

James McNeill Whistler

National Gallery of Art

Five individuals are depicted in the image, seated at tables. The person on the far left stands beside a doorway, leaning forward with arms crossed on a table. This person has long, wavy hair and a bearded face. The next person, seated with head bent down, wears a cap and a jacket. Moving to the right, there are two individuals seated together; one leans back with a hat obscuring much of the face, while the other leans forward resting on an arm. On the far right, a person wearing a large brimmed hat sits with hands on the table, with facial features obscured. The individuals' clothing appears to be from an earlier era, with jackets, hats, and long sleeves. On the tables, there are various objects including bottles, cups, and a tray with plates. The scene is sketched in a simple, linear manner with minimal background detail and a faint signature to the right of the central figure.