Group of three standing figures

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) · 1858

The very sketchy nature of these figures, along with their casual pose, suggests that they were drawn from life. Moreover, Whistler has not gone over the soft lines with harder, more detailed strokes, so he seems not to have reworked this drawing in his studio. The elaborate headpiece worn by the woman at the left must be made of lace. Such headpieces distinguished different provincial regions of France, and we may speculate that Whistler encountered his subjects during his summer travels in 1858.