Artwork preview

La Mère Gérard

James McNeill Whistler

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a standing figure in full body. The person is slightly turned to the side, with their left arm hanging at their side and the right arm holding fabric or a garment. The facial features are partially obscured by shading, with curly hair peeking from under a cap or bonnet. The attire consists of a long-sleeved shirt, a short dark cape or shawl, a long skirt, and cloth shoes. The background is lightly sketched to suggest a wall or texture, with shadows to the right of the figure. The lower part of the sketch includes the artist's inscription and other annotations.

Artwork Details

Date
1858
Medium
etching in black on laid paper
Dimensions
2553 × 3543 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original