Accession Number
1954/1.383

Title
The Mast, One of the 'Twelve Etchings,' or the 'First Venice Set'

Artist(s)
James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1879-1880

Medium & Support
etching and drypoint printed in warm black ink on laid paper, trimmed to platemark

Dimensions
13 7/16 in. x 6 1/2 in. ( 34.1 cm x 16.5 cm )

Credit Line
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Label copy
The Mast, from Twelve Etchings, or the First Venice Set
1879–80
Etching
Undescribed state later than six (Kennedy 195)
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker, 1954/1.383
A flagpole surmounted with the lion of St. Mark dominates this quiet scene of women making lace in a small square near Santa Marta. This picturesque part of Venice was demolished to make way for a large cotton factory soon after Whistler returned to London. The focus here is selective: although the figures at the bottom of the image are rendered with a lively interest, the ground level details of the buildings beyond are incomplete. The vertical format and the way that the mast is used to divide the composition recall The Tall Bridge and are evidence of the influence of Japanese art on Whistler.

Subject matter
The scene depicted here is a street near Santa Marta. Whistler offers selective focus to the scene, more completely drawing the buildings on the right side of the composition and providing closely observed details of the figures at the lower left corner.

Physical Description
A long street recedes at the center of the image. In the center is a flagpole surmounted by a winged lion (symbol of St. Mark, and therefore of Venice). In the foreground at lower left is a group of women seated working together making lace. Other than a man and boy at the right of the flagpole, the street is largely empty.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Western

Rights
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Keywords
Figures
Venice
buildings
chairs (furniture forms)
child
flagpoles
groups of people
hats
man
pole
seated
standing
streets
streetscapes
walking
woman
women