Classroom use of the art print.

Classroom use of the art print. James McNeil Whistler (American; 1834-1903). Wapping, 1860-64. Oilon canvas; 28 3/8" x 40 1/16". John Hay Whitney John Hay Whitney (August 27, 1904 in Ellsworth, Maine - February 8, 1982), colloquially known as "Jock" Whitney, was U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, publisher of the New York Herald Tribune, and a member of the Whitney family. Collection.National Gallery of Art, Washington. THINGS TO LEARN * Whistler was well-known for his etchings before his paintingsbecame popular. Etchings are made by coating a metal plate (usuallycopper) with an acid-resistant coating (a kind of waxy waxy(wak��se)1. composed of or covered by wax.2. resembling wax, especially denoting some combination of pliability, paleness, and smoothness and luster. paint). Theartist then draws on the plate with a needle-like point that removes thewax in thin lines. Acid is then poured over the surface of the plate andeats away at the metal in those places where the needle cut through theprotective surface. The metal plate is then cleaned. Prints are made by rolling or dabbing ink over the surface of theplate, then wiping the plate clean, making sure that the ink remains inthe hollow lines etched away by the acid. Printing is done using a pressthat squeezes soft, damp paper into the etched lines to pick up the ink.The image is the reverse of what appears on the plate. Printing thatpicks up ink from lines cut or etched in a metal plate is called"intaglio intaglio(ĭntăl`yō, –täl`–), design cut into stone or other material or etched or engraved in a metal plate, producing a concave, instead of a convex, effect. It is the reverse of a relief or cameo. " (pronounced intallio). * Whistler is a good example of an artist who used different stylesof working on different subjects. His portraits are quite different fromhis dock scenes, and his foggy night scenes of the river Thames aredifferent again. The best way of understanding these differences is tolook at examples of each style of work and then try to describe eachone--preferably without saying which style is the best. * This picture is painted in mainly a golden brown color withlighter and darker variations. Even the palest colors are slightlybrownish. When this kind of color not of the white race; - commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed.See also: Color scheme is chosen it is called"monochrome." * Find examples of Chinese and Japanese art to discover the kind ofart that influenced Whistler's later work. Students may also searchamong Whistler's paintings for examples of his Oriental artcollection. Most important, students should look at photographs ofWhistler's wall decorations of the Peacock Room to see how his workwas influenced by Oriental art (go to www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/peacock/default.htm.) * Compare Whistler's paintings and etchings of docks on theRiver Thames--including this painting, Wapping--with photographs ofmodern industrial seaports. Choices of modern ports might include NewYork New York, state, United StatesNew York,Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of ; Hamburg, Germany; Singapore; and Shanghai, China. Students maythen be asked to describe some of the differences that have taken placein 150 years. * To help understand why people in England did not likeWhistler's paintings at first, students may need to look at work byartists who were very popular at the time, but are not as well-knowntoday. Two of the best known at the time were William Frith frith?n. ScotsA firth.[Alteration of firth.]Frithwoods or wooded country collectively. See also forest. and EdwardBurne-Jones Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (28 August 1833–17 June 1898) was an English artist and designer closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and largely responsible for bringing the Pre-Raphaelites into the mainstream of the British art world, while at the same time . THINGS TO DO * Invent titles for artworks done in class that use the same ideasas those used by Whistler. Words such as "arrangement" or"symphony" may be used although students may prefer their owntitles such as Rock and Roll in Pink and Blue or Abstract Spaceships inReds and Greens. * The background of Whistler's painting, Wapping, is of aworkplace with lots of things going on. Taking this idea, students maylike the challenge of making pictures depicting a busy workplace today.The subject could be of a local service station, an open-air market or acarpenter's shop. Students might also do as Whistler did in thepainting of Wapping by including themselves as part of the composition. * The best way to find out why Whistler's painting of hismother has become so famous is to read what art critics have writtenabout it. Most books on 19th-century American and English art English art is the body of visual arts originating from the nation of England, in the form of a continuous tradition. Following historical surveys such as Creative Art In England willinclude something about the artist and, because this portrait is sofamous, it will be included. Students may also be able to find out moreabout the painting from the World Wide Web. * Students may come to share Whistler's admiration of Orientalart. A good way to get started is to see examples of it and perhaps makesketch drawings of their favorites. They may also be interested increating their own pictures using ideas from Japanese prints or Chinesepaintings. * Students might enjoy showing their individuality by designingtheir own monograms from their initials--as Whistler did--to use whensigning their own artworks. * Meeting and talking with artists can often have a lastinginfluence on students. One way might be to invite an artist to visit theclassroom and show examples of his or her art. Another way is to have anartist visit the school and demonstrate how he or she works. Analternative might be to arrange for a class to visit an artist'sstudio to observe him or her working. BUILDING A PICTURE FILE This painting may be used to illustrate various art-teaching needs.Potentially useful picture-file categories include: "AmericaArtists: James McNeil Whistler"; "Waterways";"Color: Monochrome"; and "Sailing Ships." For ideas about collecting and retrieving pictures to help inteaching art and other subjects, readers are invited to write to: GuyHubbard, c/o Arts & Activities, 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego San Diego(săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. ,CA 92128. E-mail: hubbard@indiana.edu.