Detail from The Canal, Amsterdam, 1889, James McNeill Whistler, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

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Two figures by a gravestone

Description

The subject has been variously described as 'Two Figures with Plumed Hats', 'Fishing' and 'Two Figures'. 1

It is very hard to interpret this drawing. It shows two men, one standing at left, leaning on a gravestone that has a skull and crossed bones at the top. His head is partly obscured by an oval shape; from this a cigar-shaped object extends up to right, apparently with smoke puffing up from it. The other man is seated on the ground, leaning on his right arm. He is holding a long pole in his right hand, from which waves a line, possibly a whip, or the top of a flag or pennant (it is unlikely to be a fishing line, given the graveyard setting). He appears to have a hat or helmet with two large irreguarly oval shapes adorning the top.

Notes:

1: Draft list, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), 1 November 1995; MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 36); RISD website.

Last updated: 26th May 2021 by Margaret