La Vieille aux Loques

The composition points to the beginning of Whistler’s preoccupation throughout his career with façades and doorways and, more specifically, with the motif of a female figure silhouetted in a doorway against a darkened interior. It is likely that this work was etched in Paris and was published in 'Twelve Etchings from Nature' (the 'French Set') in 1858. A translation of the title is 'Old Rag Woman' or 'Old Rag Seller.'