Art That Has Impressed Me

Whistler,  The Doorway



These images of Whistler's etchings of Venice were taken from www.SpaightwoodGalleries.com.

   I have been thinking often of Whistler's etchings of Venice which I first saw in an exhibition several years ago at the time of  the centennial of his death.  Lots of special exhibitions of his work at that time, whatever date they honored.

I remember in particular an exhibition that included works of some of his contemporaries who had also worked in Venice at the same time.  What struck me about Whistler's work was how relatively economical he was compared to them.  He didn't include everything, not every brick not right up to the edge of the paper, not every wave or detail.  His work seemed more powerful as a result.

I think also of the images of Charles Ritchie's work that I posted.  In "Pegasus," he left off the bottom floor of the house and kept very simplified  foliage.  In the other image he cut off  the bottom of the door and  the top of the door and the top of the window frame.


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