Lobster Pots c. 1881

James Abbott McNeill Whistler created this print, "Lobster Pots," using etching techniques. Whistler lived as an expatriate, distancing himself from American identity. His aesthetic theories, influenced by Japonism, embraced the concept of "art for art's sake," separating art from social or moral narratives. Look closely, and you'll see how Whistler departs from traditional landscape art. Rather than idealizing nature, he captures the everyday reality of labor along the shoreline. The lobster pots, rendered with delicate lines, become the focal point, elevating the tools of the working class. Consider how Whistler, despite his detachment from American identity, portrays a quintessential scene of maritime labor. Does this work romanticize or authentically depict the lives of fishermen? Perhaps Whistler offers a glimpse into a world shaped by both the beauty and hardship of coastal existence.