{"product_id":"the-trial-sermon-joanna-douglas-at-her-desk-james-mcneill-whistler","title":"The Trial Sermon, Joanna Douglas at Her Desk - James McNeill Whistler","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed wood engraving by James McNeill Whistler, depicting a woman in a quiet, contemplative moment at her desk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThis wood engraving, titled The Trial Sermon, Joanna Douglas at Her Desk, is a work by James McNeill Whistler, produced in 1862. It was created as an illustration for the periodical Once a Week, accompanying a story by Margaret Oliphant. The image depicts a woman seated in profile at a desk, her posture suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation or perhaps weariness. The composition is defined by the interplay of light and shadow, a characteristic feature of Whistler's graphic work during this period.\n\nWhistler employs a dense network of fine lines to construct the interior space. The drapery of the woman's dress is rendered with rhythmic, vertical strokes that provide a sense of weight and texture. Behind her, the curtains and the window treatment are suggested through varied hatching, which creates a subtle atmospheric quality. The desk, positioned to the left, holds a stack of books or papers, grounding the figure within a domestic setting. The chair in the foreground acts as a framing device, drawing the viewer into the private sphere of the subject.\n\nUnlike his later, more minimalist tonal studies, this work demonstrates Whistler's engagement with the conventions of Victorian book illustration. The collaboration with the Dalziel Brothers, who engraved the block, is noted in the signature at the bottom right. The work captures a specific narrative mood, focusing on the psychological state of the individual rather than the surrounding environment. The monochromatic nature of the print allows the focus to remain on the figure's silhouette and the delicate handling of light filtering through the window. This piece offers a glimpse into the artist's early career, showing his technical proficiency in the medium of wood engraving before he moved towards his more abstract, painterly concerns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-small-plantane-ferdinand-hodler\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Small Plantane - Ferdinand Hodler — Ferdinand Hodler\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/saint-sebastian-odilon-redon\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSaint Sebastian - Odilon Redon — Odilon Redon\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"James McNeill Whistler","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58175410667855,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58175693652303,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58175693685071,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58175693717839,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58175693750607,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58175693783375,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58175693816143,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58175693848911,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58175693881679,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58175693914447,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58175693947215,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58175693979983,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Trial-Sermon-Joanna-Douglas-at-Her-Desk_Poster_CompositorV1_1783360930843.jpg?v=1783596625","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/the-trial-sermon-joanna-douglas-at-her-desk-james-mcneill-whistler","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}