The Long Balcony
Medium
Transfer lithograph, printed in black ink on medium weight laid paper; second state of two (Chicago)
Dimensions
10 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. (27.3 x 21 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
Accession Number
17.3.197
Tags
Art Historical Context
James McNeill Whistler, celebrated American-born artist known for his Aesthetic movement ideals of "art for art's sake," *The Long Balcony* 1894. This intimate transfer lithograph captures the graceful architecture of a balcony, evoking Whistler's fascination with subtle harmonies, tonal subtlety, and everyday urban elegance. Printed in black ink on medium-weight paper, it measures just 10¾ × 8¼ inches, inviting close contemplation of its delicate lines and atmospheric depth. Whistler's mastery of lithography shines here: the transfer method allowed him to draw fluidly on paper before transfe...
About the Artist
James McNeill Whistler · 1834–1903
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) was an American-born painter and printmaker who became a leading figure in the Aesthetic Movement and pioneer of Tonalism and Japonisme. He revolutionized art by championing "art for art's sake" and treating paintings as visual equivalents of musical compositions, titling works as "arrangements," "harmonies," and "nocturnes" to emphasize formal qualities o...