The Little Wheelwright’s 1884

James Abbott McNeill Whistler created this etching, ‘The Little Wheelwright’s,’ at some point in the late nineteenth century. This work, like many of Whistler’s prints, depicts a working-class neighborhood in London. Whistler was interested in representing the everyday lives of ordinary people and the city around him. By focusing on the lives of the working class, Whistler challenges the art world's traditional focus on depicting the lives of the wealthy and powerful. In this etching, the scene is presented without sentimentality or idealization, showing the gritty reality of urban life. Note the tools of the wheelwright’s trade, which suggests the artisan labor that was the backbone of the Victorian economy. Understanding Whistler's work requires us to look at the social and economic context in which it was produced. Through careful analysis, historians can uncover the complex relationships between art, society, and the institutions that shape our understanding of the world.