Artwork preview

The Forge

James McNeill Whistler

National Gallery of Art

The image is a black and white sketch showing a group of people inside a space. The sketch displays parts of several figures' bodies, including a man in the foreground with his torso and upper body visible, wearing a hat, long clothes, and holding a tool in his left hand. To his right, two other individuals, likely males, are depicted from the waist up, wearing hats, long shirts, and holding tools. In the background, there are faint figures that may represent more people, some with hooded or shawl-like garments. On the right side, parts of their bodies are visible as they sit or stand near a wooden structure. The background features vertical lines, possibly representing wooden walls with hanging tools, suggesting a workshop or rustic living area.

Artwork Details

Date
1861
Medium
drypoint on Asian laid
Dimensions
5159 × 3276 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette