Floor plan

Style galleriesThe Etching Revival

The Etching Revival

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.
Nocturne (Nocturne: The Thames at Battersea), by James McNeill Whistler, 1878
A work made of transfer lithograph in black on gray china paper.
The image shows a landscape with a waterscape. The horizon separates the water and the sky. In the distance, there are buildings, structures, and ships with tall masts. Close to us, there are reflections of the ships and structures in the water with fine brushstrokes. The style is impressionistic with thin lines conveying details. The color palette is monochromatic with sepia tones.
The Frugal Meal, by Pablo Picasso, September 1904, printed 1913

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 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
  2. 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

Section 1, south wall

  1. A work made of transfer lithograph in black on gray china paper.
    Under the Lamp ("Once upon a midnight dreary..."), from The Raven (Le Corbeau)Édouard Manet, 1875Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. The image shows a landscape with a waterscape. The horizon separates the water and the sky. In the distance, there are buildings, structures, and ships with tall masts. Close to us, there are reflections of the ships and structures in the water with fine brushstrokes. The style is impressionistic with thin lines conveying details. The color palette is monochromatic with sepia tones.
    Long LagoonJames McNeill Whistler, 1880Courtesy 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 2, south wall

  1. The image shows a village scene viewed from a low vantage point near a water's edge. A row of small, closely packed buildings and a church with an onion-shaped dome are prominently featured. There are gentle slopes leading towards the structures. The image uses fine, detailed line work to depict texture and depth in the buildings and natural landscape. The lines are delicate and varied, creating a sense of detail and softness. The color palette is monochromatic, with dark ink on a pale background, resulting in a classic and timeless feel.
    SchwabelweissOtto Henry Bacher, 1879Courtesy 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

Section 2, 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. Nocturne: Palaces, by James McNeill Whistler, 1879–80
    Nocturne: PalacesJames McNeill Whistler, 1879–80Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. 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 3, north wall

  1. Business Men's Class, by George Bellows, 1916
    Business Men's ClassGeorge Bellows, 1916Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. Untitled, by Mildred McMillen, 1915
    UntitledMildred McMillen, 1915Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Section 3, south wall

  1. The image shows a small body of water with grass-covered banks on either side. The viewpoint is slightly elevated, looking down at the scene. The horizon is in the upper third of the composition, separating the sky from the land. The artwork features intricate linework and stippling to create texture and detail, particularly in the tree branches. The color palette is monochrome, with shades of sepia and brown. A tree dominates the right side of the scene, leaning over the water. In the distance, more trees and fields are visible with minimal detail in the far background.
    Apple Trees along the Side of a DitchPieter Dupont, 1894Courtesy 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 4, south wall

  1. The image shows a residential area with barren trees, rooftops of houses, and people walking along fences. The trees sway in the wind, their branches extending in various directions. The scene is depicted in a monochromatic black and white style, with expressive lines creating a sense of movement and a sketch-like quality. The horizon is high, showing rooftops and the sun above it.
    LandscapeTheo von BrockhusenCourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. 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