The Music Room

Various artists/makers

Not on view

Whistler moved to London from Paris lin 1859. After publishing the "French Set" the previous November he continued to use etching to explore new visual effects. Here, a lamp-lit interior is occupied by his half-sister Deborah, brother-in-law Seymour Haden at left, and Haden's medical partner James Traer, all shown reading. They are in the Haden home on 62 Sloane Street in Chelsea. Comparing this second state of the etching to the first (MMA 18.1.18) demonstrates how Whistler began with forms almost swallowed by darkness, then lightened the overall effect.

The Music Room, James McNeill Whistler (American, Lowell, Massachusetts 1834–1903 London), Etching, printed in black ink on fine antique laid paper with a greenish cast; second state of four (Glasgow)

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