Isle de la Cité, Paris

James McNeill Whistler

Etching and drypoint on wove paper

National Gallery of Art

This exquisite etching and drypoint captures a sweeping bird's-eye view of Paris, with the historic bridges spanning the Seine River in the foreground. Created by American expatriate artist James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), one of history's most inventive printmakers who produced nearly 500 etchings over five decades, this work showcases his masterful command of line and atmospheric perspective. The print demonstrates Whistler's realist sensibilities developed during his formative years in Paris, where he studied alongside future Impressionists and was influenced by the circle of Gustave Courbet.