Floor plan

Style galleriesThe Etching Revival

The Etching Revival

Our Army before Yorktown, Virginia, from Harper's Weekly, May 3, 1862, by Winslow Homer, 1862
The Stranger, by Albert Sterner, 1916
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.
Nocturne: Palaces, by James McNeill Whistler, 1879–80
The Petit Pont, by Charles Meryon, 1850

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. Our Army before Yorktown, Virginia, from Harper's Weekly, May 3, 1862, by Winslow Homer, 1862
    Our Army before Yorktown, Virginia, from Harper's Weekly, May 3, 1862Winslow Homer, 1862Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  2. The Stranger, by Albert Sterner, 1916
    The StrangerAlbert Sterner, 1916Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Section 1, south wall

  1. 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
  2. Nocturne: Palaces, by James McNeill Whistler, 1879–80
    Nocturne: PalacesJames McNeill Whistler, 1879–80Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. The Petit Pont, by Charles Meryon, 1850
    The Petit PontCharles Meryon, 1850Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. A work made of lithograph in black ink, with additions in brush and red, blue, yellow, green, orange-brown and gray watercolor on ivory wove paper.
    TingletangleEdvard Munch, 1895Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  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

Section 2, north wall

  1. The image features a riverside scene with a large building in the center and smaller structures in the background. The sky is filled with clouds, and there are boats on the water. The artwork is done in an etching style, with detailed lines showing architectural elements, boats, and water ripples. The color scheme is monochromatic in shades of brown and black.
    L'ancien Louvre d'après une peinture de Zeeman, 1651 (The Old Louvre, from a Painting by Zeeman, l651)Charles Meryon, 1866Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. This print displays a landscape with a wide view of flat land stretching towards the horizon. The ground is covered in small black dots, with some bare patches in the bottom center. A few silhouetted trees and a hint of smoke coming up from behind some rocks are visible in the distance. The gray sky dominates the scene with soft, swirling clouds.
    LowlandsTimothy Cole, 1918Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, north wall

  1. Lady with the Lute, by Henry Wolf, 1909
    Lady with the LuteHenry Wolf, 1909Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  2. Untitled, by Mildred McMillen, 1915
    UntitledMildred McMillen, 1915Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. A work made of lithograph in dark green on cream wove paper.
    Mévisto, from Le Café-ConcertHenri-Gabriel Ibels, 1893Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 3, south wall

  1. The Creation, by Kálmán Kubinyi, before 1927
    The CreationKálmán Kubinyi, before 1927Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. The image displays a harbor filled with boats and ships. The perspective is slightly elevated, likely from a dock, with a partially visible boat and dock at the forefront. The horizon is in the upper third of the image, showing a distant cityscape with spires and structures. The brushwork is delicate, with fine, linear strokes typical of etching. The color palette is monochromatic, sepia tones creating a vintage and serene mood. The ships with tall masts populate the water, with reflections giving a sense of stillness. In the distance, faint impressions of buildings line the harbor, blending into the horizon.
    San GiorgioJames McNeill Whistler, 1880Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 4, south wall

  1. A work made of transfer lithograph in black, with stumping and scraping, on cream laid paper, laid down on a heavy backing sheet.
    La Belle JardinièreJames McNeill Whistler, 1894Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  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