Cylindrical jar 1876 - 1878

James Abbott McNeill Whistler's "Cylindrical jar" is a simple yet captivating ink drawing of a Chinese porcelain vase. Created between 1876 and 1878, the artwork exemplifies Whistler's fascination with Japanese and Chinese art, evident in the detailed depiction of the vase's intricate floral pattern. The artist's signature style, known as "art for art's sake," emphasizes the aesthetic qualities of the subject, rendering the vase in a minimalist, elegant manner against a plain background, highlighting its form and decorative motifs. Whistler's drawing, despite its simplicity, reflects a significant shift in Western art towards the appreciation of Eastern aesthetics, particularly in his later works.