"Reading by Lamplight" is an etching and drypoint by James McNeill Whistler that depicts an intimate domestic scene of a figure absorbed in reading under artificial light. The work exemplifies Whistler's masterful handling of tonal values and his ability to create atmospheric effects through careful manipulation of the printmaking medium. The composition captures a quiet moment of concentration with characteristic restraint and sophistication typical of the artist's approach to both subject matter and technical execution.