The Little Forge / James McNeill Whistler
Viewer
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1954/1.361
- Title
- The Little Forge
- Artist
- James McNeill Whistler
- Artist Nationality
- American
- Artist Life Dates
- 1834-1903
- Medium and Support
- drypoint on laid paper
- Object Creation Date
- 1875
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker
- Inscription
- Watermark: (crown flanked by lions)
- Dimensions
- 38.6 cm x 30 cm (15 3/16 in. x 11 13/16 in.)
- Century
- 19th century
- Physical Description
- Several figures are seen within an interior; the two principal figures are each bent over their tasks. The man at the bottom of the image holds a hammer in his left hand and is about to strike something held in his right hand that is positioned on an anvil; his figure is leaning forward, in profile, facing to the right. The other figure sits with his back to the viewer, facing to the left and towards a window at the far left. The furnace is visible at the center background, and other figures are lightly drawn in at the far right. Deep shadows and a timber ceiling create a sense of a dark interior and numerous horseshoes are visible on the wall between the furnace and the window.
- Subject Matter
- Whistler’s interest in scenes of working class men is captured here in a reprise of his earlier theme of "The Forge" from 1861. Instead of the effects of the furnace itself, this view of a smithy’s shop is focused on labor. Two men work with their backs to one another, forming complementary arcs as they bend over their tasks. The man in the foreground is working the hot metal on an anvil while in the background the other man is seated at a bench before the window. Three other figures are seen at the right and emblems of their labor—horseshoes—are visible hanging on the wall. The Rembrandtesque interest in chiaroscuro in a darkened room remains a constant motif in Whistler’s etchings.
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 981 x 1461
- File Size
- 159 KB
- Record
- 1954/1.361
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1954-sl-1.361/1954_1.361.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1954-SL-1.361:1954_1.361.JPG
Cite this Item
View the Help Guide for more information.
- Full citation
-
"The Little Forge; James McNeill Whistler." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1954-sl-1.361/1954_1.361.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 25, 2024.
