Exhibitions : Past Exhibitions
James McNeill Whistler: 40 Years of Printmaking
Date(s): May 26, 2009 thru September 20, 2009
Sheldon Museum of Art presents James McNeill Whistler: 40 Years of Printmaking from May 26 through September 20, 2009. Approximately 40 etchings and lithographs from the Sheldon’s permanent collection are shown together for the first time.
The works, dating from 1859 to 1899, include prints from two well-known portfolios called the Thames Set and the French Set. The most recognizable pieces in the collection include Black Lion Wharf (1859), Bibi Lalouette (1859), Early Morning Battersea (1878), and Savoy Pigeons (1896). Numerous works in the exhibition were the gifts of James A. and Ann K. Rawley and the F. M. Hall bequest.
To view a slide show of images from the exhibition, please click: Whistler Slide Show
To listen to a discussion with collector Ann K. Rawley, please click: Pod cast with Ann Rawley
As is evident in prints from the Thames Set, Whistler was especially interest in harbor scenes. While living in London, the artist gravitated toward the less fashionable neighborhood of Chelsea, crowded with barges, factories and decaying buildings. Although not aesthetically pleasing on its own account, the area lent itself to realistic and captivating images as evident in Whistler’s prints. In addition to scenes along the Thames, the collection includes a number of intimate portraits of family, friends and acquaintances of Whistler as well as other images that will give viewers a glimpse into the world of one of the greatest and most influential printmakers of the 19th century.
The exhibition also includes a selection of works by artists who were influenced by Whistler from the collection of Norman and Judy Zlotsky. The Zlotskys have also lent two Whistler prints for the exhibition.
Three rooms from the Kruger Collection of Miniature Furnishings and Decorative Arts will also be on view. Three rooms from the [3]Kruger Collection of Miniature Furnishings and Decorative Arts will also be on view. One room depicts how an American dining room might have looked at the time of Whistler's birth in 1834, a second is a sitting room reflecting the British Eastlake style, and the third shows the Japanese influence that Whistler adopted in his art.
Dr. Stuart Embury of Holdrege, Nebraska, donated several rare books on view in the exhibition. Additional books from the Embury Collection are on view in the Archives and Special Collections in Love Library.
This exhibition is made possible by the support of James and Rhonda Seacrest.
Location: Sheldon
