Chelsea Rags

Whistler lived in London’s working-class neighborhood of Chelsea for four decades. Like many Chelsea shops represented in his lithographic oeuvre, this one recalls his early realist subjects. Whistler emphasizes the strong geometry of the shop’s facade, made even more striking by the contrast with the limp, crinkled fabrics hanging below and next to the windows. This print is one of many lithographs by Whistler that were published in periodicals during and after his lifetime.