The Little Forge
James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Description
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.
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. A 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.
Usage Rights:
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