This early compositional study for The Three Girls reveals Whistler’s particular attention to the crouching woman, whose complicated pose of twisting and partly rising while reaching forward was inspired by a similar work by Whistler’s friend, Albert Moore. In later studies, Whistler simplified the pose by showing the figure in profile, resting on her haunches.
James McNeill Whistler
1869–74
Pen on brown paper with white heightening
Colby College Museum of Art, The Lunder Collection, 007.2009