"Green and Blue: The Dancer," James Abbott McNeill Whistler, c. 1893.

Whistler (1834-1903) was famous for disdaining moral didacticism in painting; he believed in art for art's sake. Which is why the famous painting of his mother, being viewed as a sentimental tribute, would infuriate him; it wasn't, it was just an exercise in color.

When he painted this, he was living in Paris and was at the top of his career, doing commissions for many wealthy collectors as well as winning the esteem of many critics as well. (Except famous art critic John Ruskin, who gave a Whistler painting a derisive review, prompting Whistler to sue for libel...he won, but only a tiny sum.)

One of his fascinations in this period was the female form in diaphanous drapery, caught in dramatic poses. This worked well for him, experimenting with color and tone, while paying tribute to Greek and Japanese art, which he loved.

From the Art Institute of Chicago.

#Art #JamesMcNeillWhistler #Tonalism #WomenInArt

"Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Chelsea," James Abbott McNeill Whistler, 1871.

Whistler (1834-1903) was a highly influential and famous painter, although it would infuriate him to know he was most famous for that over-familiar painting of his mother....because it's regarded as a portrait of motherhood, while he intended it only to be a study of shapes and colors. Really.

That's something about Whistler's art that many modern folks struggle with. He was a big proponent of the Aesthetic movement, preaching "art for art's sake". Many scenes like this weren't intended to be landscapes or capturing a moment in time...they were explorations of color and form. They were meant to be beautiful, and not teach a lesson or have a message.

He was known as a Tonalist, an art movement that branched off from Impressionism, and was more about capturing form and color.

From the Tate Modern, London.

#Art #JamesAbbottMcNeillWhistler #Tonalism #Aestheticism #Nocturne