En plein soleil

James McNeill Whistler American

Not on view

Whistler probably captured this image of a grisette, or working girl holding a parasol, in the countryside near Paris (the title translates to "In Full Sun"). Realist and naturalist ideas circulating among artists in France influenced the unidealized approach. One of Whistler's early etchings, it was made in the summer of 1858 before he set out in mid-August to tour the Rhineland. In November, it was included in "Douze eau-fortes d'apres Nature" ("Twelve Etchings from Nature"), known as the "French Set." This impression belonged to Thomas Winans, a Baltimore friend who financed the artist's move to Paris in 1855; Winans kept the print in an album that his descendants gave to the Museum.

En plein soleil, James McNeill Whistler (American, Lowell, Massachusetts 1834–1903 London), Etching on tan chine on white wove paper (chine collé); third state of three (Glasgow)

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

En plein soleil, James McNeill Whistler (American, Lowell, Massachusetts 1834–1903 London), Etching on tan chine on white wove paper (chine collé); third state of three (Glasgow)
En plein soleil, James McNeill Whistler (American, Lowell, Massachusetts 1834–1903 London), Etching on tan chine on white wove paper (chine collé); third state of three (Glasgow)

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.