Annie

Whistler's drawing of Annie Haden is probably a preparatory drawing related to At the Piano, an oil begun late in 1858 and exhibited the next year. The Freer drawing could have been one of several in which the artist explored the leaning figure from different angles. For the final work, he chose a profile which formally complements the piano player. X rays of the painting indicate that the figure of the little girl may not have been part of the artist's conception at first. At The Piano was an important picture, the first one Whistler exhibited in England, and probably the first to be associated with Velasquez. Freer greatly admired the "Piano Picture", but was never able to acquire it. He had to content himself with this drawing.