The doorway

Whistler, James McNeill, 1834-1903 · [1879–1880]

Upon the border of a canal, a great doorway, set within a round arch and open below a grille of iron framework wrought in squares, is flanked by round-arched windows barred with iron grilles of diamond pattern; the whole encased by moldings of elaborate stone carving. Beyond heavy doors, swung back over a broad stone platform, a dark passageway, from the ceiling of which chairs are hung, leads by irregular steps to a court, lighted by barred windows, where people are at work. At the right side of the doorway, a girl stands on the second step leading from the canal, and back of her, in the shadow, stands a woman. The butterfly, shaded, appears above the arch of the window at the left.