Thames Warehouses 1859

Editor: This is James McNeill Whistler's "Thames Warehouses," an etching. I’m struck by the contrast between the industrial buildings and the delicate lines of the boats. What does this image say about London in the 19th century? Curator: Whistler captures the burgeoning industrialization and its impact on the working class. The Thames wasn't just a river; it was a bustling site of labor and commerce, often exploiting those who worked there. Do you see how the artist highlights the warehouses? Editor: Yes, they seem to loom over the water. Were there efforts to bring awareness to this exploitation? Curator: Absolutely. Whistler and his contemporaries used art to reveal these social inequalities, giving visibility to the lives and struggles of the working class. It's a powerful statement about class and labor. Editor: It really changes how I see the image. I thought it was simply a landscape. Curator: Art can be a voice for the voiceless, a catalyst for change.