James McNeill Whistler
1834–1903 · Symbolism & Art Nouveau
Biography
James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903), an American artist who lived in Paris and London, was a leading figure of the Aesthetic Movement and its motto “art for art’s sake”. His most famous work is the portrait of his mother.
From the artist’s life
James Whistler might never have become an artist — he was a cadet at West Point, New York, from 1851 to 1854 — but he failed to qualify, so shortly afterwards he moved to Paris, France. The eccentric American expatriate lived first in Paris and then in London, and became famous for embracing the principle of “art for art’s sake”. With his mocking wit, a friend of Oscar Wilde, the eccentric, sharp-tongued Whistler managed to alienate many people. He wrote about art in his works The Ten O’Clock Lecture (1885) and The Gentle Art of Making Enemies (1890). Explaining his belief in the idea of art for art’s sake, he wrote: “Art should be independent of all clap-trap — should stand alone, and appeal to the artistic sense of eye or ear, without confounding this with emotions entirely foreign to it.”
From the page of Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (Portrait of the Artist’s Mother)
Whistler attached great importance to the choice of materials for his works. Many of his Venetian pastels, including Stormy Sunset, were made on quality brown pastel paper, a supply of which he had received as a gift from the London printer Thomas Way before his departure. Thanks to his creative productivity, he soon needed more sheets. Through an ingenious English artist he found a good number of coloured papers in a Venetian warehouse. As a result his later pastels of the city were made on bright pink, yellow and blue sheets. Whistler used two sets: one box contained his favourite, interestingly coloured smaller pieces of chalk, while he reserved the other box for his most important pictures.
From the page of Stormy Sunset
