Turkeys 1879 - 1880

James Abbott McNeill Whistler created this etching, titled Turkeys, using fine lines to depict a domestic scene. Whistler was an American artist working in Europe. His life and work were deeply influenced by the social and artistic currents of the late 19th century, a period marked by significant shifts in class structures, industrialization, and evolving gender roles. Whistler, like many of his contemporaries, sought to capture the nuances of everyday life, yet he often did so with an eye toward the aesthetic qualities of his compositions. Here we see a woman, likely a member of the household staff, tending to the turkeys in a yard, while figures look on from a balcony. The scene evokes a sense of quiet domesticity, yet it also subtly speaks to the social hierarchies of the time. The turkeys themselves might symbolize the bounty and prosperity of the household, a visual representation of class and status. The presence of domestic workers, often overlooked, highlights the labor that sustained such lifestyles. In Turkeys, Whistler invites us to reflect on the interwoven threads of daily life, class, and gender roles, even within the most unassuming of scenes.