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The Young Tree

James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Artwork Details

The Young Tree
1887
James Abbott McNeill Whistler
etching, printed in warm black ink on laid paper, trimmed to platemark
5 1/4 in. x 3 3/4 in. ( 13.3 cm x 9.5 cm )
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker
1954/1.397

Description

Subject Matter:

This tender image of a woman and child sitting near a young tree in an urban park shows how skillfully Whistler could, with just a few strokes, create a complete environment. The setting is at the Inns of Court, Gray's Inn, in London.

Physical Description:

Two figures sit on the ground next to a young tree that stands supported by a stake. The figure on the left is a young woman wearing a straw hat and possibly knitting.  The figure to the right is a toddler, who dons a bonnet.  The tree's foliage fills the image at the upper right. A fence in the upper part of the image separates the two figures from buildings in the distance, seen through the tree's branches. Presumably they are in an area adjacent to a residential neighborhood.

Usage Rights:

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