Battersea Dawn 1863

James McNeill Whistler made this etching, "Battersea Dawn," sometime in the late 19th century, rendering an industrial waterscape in understated tones. Whistler was an American expatriate who spent much of his career in London. His etchings are subtle and atmospheric, like this one. But we can easily forget that etchings like this played an important role in the art market of their time. Whistler made many views of London, especially the River Thames, and sold them for moderate prices to a growing middle class. He was one of a number of artists who took advantage of new commercial galleries that catered to new collectors with less disposable income than the traditional aristocratic patrons of art. The Thames views are thus a kind of industrial landscape made specifically for middle-class consumption. Art historians study dealers' records, exhibition reviews, and artists' correspondence to understand the relationship between an artwork like this and the economic and social conditions of its time.