Female Figure, Seated 1870 - 1873

James McNeill Whistler sketched "Female Figure, Seated" with delicate lines of graphite on a brown paper, capturing a moment of quiet contemplation. The earthy palette emphasizes the figure's connection to the physical world, while the subtle gradations of tone give the form depth. Whistler's use of line explores the threshold between presence and absence, inviting us to consider the interplay of visibility and concealment. The seated woman, draped in flowing fabric, suggests an interest in form and surface. Whistler was deeply influenced by the emerging ideas of modernism. Here, the figure loses specificity, becoming an exercise in pure visuality. The somewhat ambiguous shape floating to the right of the figure only serves to emphasise a shift from traditional representation to a concern with the structural elements of art. The sketch highlights the formal qualities of Whistler's draftsmanship. It functions aesthetically but also signals a move towards abstraction and a deeper engagement with the underlying structure of visual experience, a critical development in modern art.