‘The Angler,’ 1861. Steel-plate etching, cut by Whistler. 4¾ x 6¼ inches; plate 7. This work illustrates ‘The Fisherman’s Soliloquy’ by John Hamilton Reynolds, but only bears a loose connection to the text and seems to show a man punting a boat rather than fishing. Whistler again focuses on the atmosphere of the moment, creating a sense of airy reverie and delicate reflection. The refined treatment of the background of trees, described in the lightest of touches, is a graphic equivalent to the fading light and diffuse outlines in Whistler’s Impressionist paintings. [Click on image to enlarge it.]
Photograph and text by Simon Cooke. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.
Bibliography
Passages from Modern English Poets, Illustrated by the Junior Etching Club. London: William Tegg [1861].
Created 30 October 2020