James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Name: James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Birth year: 1834
Death year: 1903
City of birth: Lowell, Massachusetts
Notable characteristics: Subtle shifts in color, innovative techniques, unique subjects
Notable artwork: Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket and Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (Whistler’s Mother)

Influenced by the Realism movement and Japanese art, James Abbott McNeill Whistler was known in the art world for being part of the Aesthetic Movement, emphasizing beauty over moral or social messages.

A notable piece is “Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (Whistler’s Mother). This iconic portrait features Whistler’s mother sitting in profile against a grey background.

James Whistler Artwork