Two Men and a Boat 

James Abbott McNeill Whistler made this drawing, "Two Men and a Boat," with graphite on paper. The composition emphasizes a sparse landscape where the primary focus is the boat and the two figures. Whistler's marks are minimal, yet they delineate the forms effectively against the paper's muted tone. The visual weight is at the center with the circular form of the boat contrasting with the distant, rectangular buildings. This contrast in shape, combined with the soft texture of the graphite, lends the piece a dreamlike quality, pulling us into its quiet atmosphere. Whistler was interested in the formal arrangement of elements. His approach resonates with the emerging aesthetic theories of his time, challenging traditional notions of representation and paving the way for abstraction. The simple, balanced forms invite contemplation, revealing Whistler's pursuit of visual harmony.