Lobster Pots c. 1881

"Lobster Pots" is an etching created by James Abbott McNeill Whistler around 1881. The work depicts a simple scene of lobster pots scattered along a beach. The composition is characterized by Whistler's signature use of simplified forms and atmospheric effects. The artist's fascination with the beauty of everyday objects and the subtle nuances of light and shadow is evident in this piece. The etching's delicate lines and soft tonal variations contribute to its quiet and contemplative mood. Whistler's work is often associated with the Aesthetic Movement, a late 19th-century artistic trend that emphasized beauty and formal qualities over narrative or social commentary.