Floor plan

Style galleriesThe Etching Revival

The Etching Revival

Nocturne: Palaces, by James McNeill Whistler, 1879–80
The image shows a street scene from a close perspective down a narrow alleyway. The horizon is not visible, with buildings on both sides. The style features detailed etching with fine lines and shading for depth and texture. The color palette is monochromatic with black, gray, and off-white tones. The houses have worn facades, and there is a distant figure. The sky is dark and overcast, enhancing the shadow-filled scene.
The Frugal Meal, by Pablo Picasso, September 1904, printed 1913
A work made of etching and drypoint in brown on cream laid paper.
The image depicts two individuals from the waist up. The person on the left has a round face and is slightly behind the person on the right who has a slightly elongated face. Both individuals appear to be seated and have short, neatly combed hair. They have neutral facial expressions and their features are indistinct. The person on the left wears a suit with a bow tie, while the person on the right is dressed in clothing with detailed patterns and holds a flower-like object in their left hand. The background shows simple line sketches that suggest an interior setting.

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

Artists who took up the etching needle again, from Whistler to the Paris printmakers.

Section 1, north wall

  1. Nocturne: Palaces, by James McNeill Whistler, 1879–80
    Nocturne: PalacesJames McNeill Whistler, 1879–80Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The image shows a street scene from a close perspective down a narrow alleyway. The horizon is not visible, with buildings on both sides. The style features detailed etching with fine lines and shading for depth and texture. The color palette is monochromatic with black, gray, and off-white tones. The houses have worn facades, and there is a distant figure. The sky is dark and overcast, enhancing the shadow-filled scene.
    Street in SaverneJames McNeill Whistler, 1858Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The Frugal Meal, by Pablo Picasso, September 1904, printed 1913
    The Frugal MealPablo Picasso, September 1904, printed 1913Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. A work made of etching and drypoint in brown on cream laid paper.
    Nocturne, from Venice, a Series of Twelve Etchings (the "First Venice Set")James McNeill Whistler, 1879–80Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. The image depicts two individuals from the waist up. The person on the left has a round face and is slightly behind the person on the right who has a slightly elongated face. Both individuals appear to be seated and have short, neatly combed hair. They have neutral facial expressions and their features are indistinct. The person on the left wears a suit with a bow tie, while the person on the right is dressed in clothing with detailed patterns and holds a flower-like object in their left hand. The background shows simple line sketches that suggest an interior setting.
    Ostpreussisches Ehepaar (Couple from East Prussia)Lovis Corinth, 1916Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, south wall

  1. Business Men's Class, by George Bellows, 1916
    Business Men's ClassGeorge Bellows, 1916Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. Lady with the Lute, by Henry Wolf, 1909
    Lady with the LuteHenry Wolf, 1909Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Section 2, north wall

  1. The image features a large building with a domed tower on the right side. The horizon shows hills, trees, and the sky. The brushstrokes give detailed texture to the scene, with a focus on the landscape and architecture. The color palette is sepia-toned. A tree, fence, smaller buildings, and a figure on a path add depth and perspective to the scene.
    Mission Santa Barbara, Looking SouthHenry Chapman Ford, 1888Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image depicts a landscape with a river flowing through it. In the foreground, there is a small boat on the water, and in the background, sailboats are docked near a strip of land. Tall trees with sparse foliage are on the right side, with a structure nestled among them near the water. The horizon is slightly above the center of the image, with a calm sky above it. The brushstrokes vary in texture, with fine strokes for the sky and water and more detailed strokes for the trees. The color palette is muted, with sepia and gray tones creating a peaceful atmosphere. Birds are scattered in the sky.
    Shrewsbury RiverJohn Hill Millspaugh, 1887Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. Portrait of Mrs. C--, by Henry Wolf, 1894
    Portrait of Mrs. C--Henry Wolf, 1894Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Section 3, north wall

  1. Washerwomen Descending a Quai Staircase, by Alexandre Lunois, 1888
    Washerwomen Descending a Quai StaircaseAlexandre Lunois, 1888Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. A work made of color lithograph on paper.
    The Old ViolinWilliam Michael Harnett, 1887Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 3, south wall

  1. The Petit Pont, by Charles Meryon, 1850
    The Petit PontCharles Meryon, 1850Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. The image depicts a landscape seen from a slightly elevated perspective, with a tranquil scene. The horizon is high in the composition, showing a vast view. There are a few distant trees and silhouettes blending into the sky. The brushstrokes are expressive and fluid, with a sketch-like quality depicting texture and movement in the trees and ground. The color palette is primarily monochrome, using shades of black and grey. Near the viewer, there are low plants and shrubs on sandy ground, leading to a small body of water reflecting dense trees. In the distance, the landscape becomes more open and sparse towards the horizon.
    Cape Ann WillowsCharles A. Platt, 1887Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 4, south wall

  1. A work made of transfer lithograph in black on tan simili-parchment paper.
    Head of a Raven in Profile, from The Raven (Le Corbeau)Édouard Manet, 1875Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. The image shows two individuals seated outdoors near a body of water with their feet submerged. Both individuals are seen from head to toe. The person on the left is seated with a slightly hunched posture, reading a document or a book. They have a balding head, wear glasses, a dark suit with the coat draped over their knees, and a top hat placed on the ground. The individual on the right is sitting upright with a scarf over their hair. They wear a long dress with a shawl, and their hands rest on their lap. The background features a bare tree and a rough, sketched environment. The sky and landscape are depicted in shades of light and dark.
    Une lecture intéressante et rafraichissanteHonoré Daumier, 1854Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington