The Doctor 1895

James Abbott McNeill Whistler sketched "The Doctor" using graphite, amidst a society grappling with rapid industrialization and shifting class structures. The sitter's pose, both relaxed and formal, suggests an individual of means, a product of the Victorian era's complex social hierarchy. The work captures an intersection of identities – a doctor, a man of stature – viewed through Whistler's own lens as an expatriate artist navigating European society. The sketch invites contemplation on who is represented in art and how they are portrayed. Whistler, known for his aestheticism, sought to capture the essence of his subjects, once saying, “An artist is born to pick, and choose, and group with science, these elements, that the result may be beautiful." "The Doctor" reflects the artist's search for beauty in the nuances of human identity and social standing.