Floor plan

Style galleriesThe Etching Revival

The Etching Revival

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 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.
Cornwall, by Kerr Eby, 1927
A work made of transfer lithograph in black on gray china paper.
A work made of lithograph on ivory wove paper.
Nocturne: Palaces, by James McNeill Whistler, 1879–80

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. 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
  2. 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
  3. Cornwall, by Kerr Eby, 1927
    CornwallKerr Eby, 1927Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Section 1, south wall

  1. A work made of transfer lithograph in black on gray china paper.
    At the window ("Open here I flung the shutter..."), from The Raven (Le Corbeau)Édouard Manet, 1875Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. A work made of lithograph on ivory wove paper.
    Paulus, from Le Café-ConcertHenri-Gabriel Ibels, 1893Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Nocturne: Palaces, by James McNeill Whistler, 1879–80
    Nocturne: PalacesJames McNeill Whistler, 1879–80Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. The Fan Tree, by Ernest Haskell, ca. 1915
    The Fan TreeErnest Haskell, ca. 1915Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  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 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 2, north wall

  1. Nocturne (Nocturne: The Thames at Battersea), by James McNeill Whistler, 1878
    Nocturne (Nocturne: The Thames at Battersea)James McNeill Whistler, 1878Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Evening, Melancholy I, by Edvard Munch, 1896
    Evening, Melancholy IEdvard Munch, 1896Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

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 drypoint with light plate tone on thin ivory japanese paper.
    Whistler with a HatJames McNeill Whistler, 1859Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. 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

Section 3, 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