The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

M.0037
Le Débardeur

Le Débardeur

Artist: James McNeill Whistler
Date: 1849/1851
Collection: Rhode Island School of Design
Accession Number: 1994.030.1
Medium: pen and ink
Support: wove paper
Size: 1 13/16 x 7/16" (46 x 10 mm)
Signature: 'J.W.'
Inscription: none

Date

Le Débardeur dates from between 1849 and 1851, and was given to Whistler's schoolmate Edward Lawrence Hyde (1835-1917) at Christ Church Hall, Pomfret, CT.

Le Débardeur, photograph
Le Débardeur, photograph

It was partially catalogued, but not reproduced, in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 37). This entry has been revised.

Images

Le Débardeur, Rhode Island School of Design
Le Débardeur, Rhode Island School of Design

Subject

Sitter

Le Débardeur, Rhode Island School of Design
Le Débardeur, Rhode Island School of Design

A sketch inspired by the series Les Débardeurs by Paul Gavarni (1804-1866). See also 'Vive les Débardeurs!!' m0133. The term means a docker or longshoreman but it was the image of a woman in trousers that struck Whistler's imagination. She wears what may be a carnival mask.

Technique

Technique

A free, bold drawing, done with a medium sized pen, probably a quill pen. Apart from the rough and repeated outlines, there is some zigzag shading on the trousers. The mask has been heavily inked.

Conservation History

It is on smooth medium-weight wove rag paper. The paper is slightly browned and soiled.

History

Provenance

Photostats of drawings owned by Edward L. Hyde were sent to Joseph Pennell (1860-1926) in 1924.

Exhibitions

It was not exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

Journals 1906-Present

Websites


Notes: