Early Morning, Battersea c. 1859

James Abbott McNeill Whistler created this etching titled "Early Morning, Battersea" to capture the essence of the industrial Thames. Whistler, an American expatriate, lived most of his life in Europe, moving in circles with other artists and intellectuals. In this piece, Whistler presents a misty scene of the river, a place of labor and transit, in a rapidly industrializing London. The boats hint at the lives and stories of the working class who navigated these waters. Battersea, then a more working-class district, is rendered with an emotional depth, diverging from idealized landscapes. Whistler, influenced by Japanese aesthetics, sought to express atmosphere and feeling. He once said, "Art should be independent of all clap-trap - should stand alone". "Early Morning, Battersea" evokes a sense of quiet contemplation amidst the urban sprawl. The print invites us to reflect on the changing city and the lives it sustains. It offers a window into a moment in time, capturing the intersection of industry, nature, and the human experience.