The Troubled Thames

James Abbott McNeill Whistler's "The Troubled Thames," a print made in 1875, hangs before you. This evocative piece, part of the National Gallery of Art's collection, measures just a little over 11 centimeters tall and 20 centimeters wide. Don't let its size fool you, though. Whistler's etching masterfully captures the River Thames in London, not as a serene waterway, but as a scene of almost turbulent energy. nn Notice how the river dominates the foreground, rendered with these short, almost agitated strokes. You can practically feel the choppiness of the water, can't you? Two sailboats brave these waters. One sits close to us, almost swallowed by the waves, while the other, further in the distance, seems to strain against the current. nn The far shore presents a different kind of tumult. Whistler gives us London in the throes of industry. Factories, warehouses, and chimneys, all rendered in a somewhat hasty, almost abstract style, crowd the riverbank. The smoke from these industries seems to fill the sky, and in fact, Whistler gives us no sky at all, focusing our attention solely on this almost frantic scene of human endeavor. nn What do you think Whistler wanted to convey with this darkness, this sense of unease? Perhaps it's a commentary on the relentless pace of industrialization, or maybe it's simply a snapshot of the Thames on a particularly turbulent day. Whatever his intention, "The Troubled Thames" offers a captivating glimpse into both the beauty and the potential chaos of the natural world.