Sketching, No.I

James McNeill Whistler

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a scene by a riverbank with a small boat carrying two figures. The horizon is shown in the upper third of the image, meeting rolling hills and the sky. Trees line the riverbank in the distance, reflecting in the water. The etching style uses intricate lines to depict texture and detail in the natural elements. The color palette is monochromatic, using sepia shades. Near us, a figure is sitting, either sketching or observing the scene.