The Ermine Coat 1870 - 1873

"The Ermine Coat" is a charcoal drawing created by American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler between 1870 and 1873. The drawing depicts a woman standing in a simple pose, her face obscured by a hat. The white fur of her coat is rendered in delicate strokes of white chalk, while her dark clothing is depicted with bold strokes of charcoal. This sketch is a study for the later oil painting of the same name, which features the same model but with a much more elaborate composition. Whistler was known for his experimental approach to portraiture, and this work is a prime example of his fascination with form and tone.