Billingsgate

Whistler's print shows Old Billingsgate Fish Market. In 1982, the market moved to a new site near Canary Wharf. By depicting both the market building and the fishermen aboard the boat, Whistler makes a visual link between the suppliers and the catchers of fish.

The view takes in the market clock tower on the left and includes, beyond the ships' masts and rigging, London Bridge and the tower of Southwark Cathedral. Billingsgate is on the north bank of the Thames and we are looking west, upstream. Whistler drew directly onto the etching plate, so his true view would have had Southwark Cathedral on the left and the market buildings on the right. When the plate was printed it resulted in the reversed image we see here.