Titles

Whistler's original title is not known. Suggested titles are as follows:

• ' "Vert et Gris" (Dieppe)' (1904, Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts). 1
• 'Vert et Gris: A Shop, Dieppe' (1915, Colnaghi). 2
• 'Green and Gold – A Shop in Calais' (1935, Glasgow University). 3
• 'Green and Gold: A Shop in Calais' (1980, YMSM). 4

'Green and Gold: A Shop in Calais' is the preferred title.

Description

A small shop front, depicted in vertical format. On the ground floor, at left is a window. To right of centre is a dark doorway with a green quadrilateral panel across it (rather like the swing-door on a saloon), and to right of this there is a narrow green full-length door, shutter or panel. On the floor above, at left is a large open window with white curtains; it has a slightly arched lunette above, and there are flowers on the narrow balcony. The wall to right of this window is painted dark yellow.

Site

The town of Calais, a busy port and ferry terminal on the north French coast overlooking the Strait of Dover.

Comments

This is a rare example in Whistler's work of a totally unpeopled street scene.