Little London c. 1896

"Little London" (c. 1896) is an etching by American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903). This work depicts a bird's-eye view of London, with the Thames River and several bridges in the foreground. The cityscape is rendered in a minimalist style, with light, delicate lines and a focus on capturing the essence of the scene rather than precise detail. This work is characteristic of Whistler's aesthetic, known as "art for art's sake," which valued beauty and form over narrative or representation.