“Arrangement in Black and Brown: The Fur Jacket” is an evocative portrait created in 1876 by the renowned artist James McNeill Whistler. Executed in oil on canvas, the piece stands as a representative work of the Tonalism movement, demonstrating an exquisite management of color and atmosphere. Measuring 92.7 by 194 cm, the portrait is rendered with a refined subtlety and a focus on the interplay between black and brown hues.
The artwork depicts a figure, presumably a woman, adorned in a distinguished fur jacket. The subject is captured with her back turned to the viewer, her face subtly illuminated, imbuing the piece with a sense of intrigue and contemplation. The predominant use of muted black and brown tones creates a harmonious and somber mood, characteristic of Whistler’s approach within the Tonalism movement. The composition and soft brushwork convey a sense of stillness and introspection, inviting the viewer to ponder the quiet elegance of the moment portrayed.