Description
James Abbott McNeill Whistler stands with his legs crossed in William Merritt Chase’s portrait, a slim dark figure set against a muted brown background. His black coat and cane establish a spare, recognizable silhouette, while the softly defined surroundings keep attention on the person. The full-length arrangement gives his stance an expressive role, allowing posture to carry as much interest as the face.
Painted in London in 1885, the work arose when Chase and Whistler agreed to portray one another. Chase echoed aspects of Whistler’s recent portraits, intending the treatment as an acknowledgment of an artist he admired. The image’s interest lies in that closeness between likeness and artistic response. A person is represented through visual choices associated with his own work, inviting the viewer to see both the observed individual and another painter’s interpretation of his style.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the William Merritt Chase collection.
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