Whistler: “Individualism” and Modernity

In our final talk of this series, we delve deeper into the theme of aestheticism and how this style of art takes us to the brink of modernity. J.A.M Whistler leads the way. An egoist, an eccentric and always embroiled in scandal. A rival in wit to his friend Oscar Wilde and the man attacked by Ruskin for ‘flinging a pot of paint in the public’s face’. A follower of John Everett Millais and the inventor of the painted ‘symphony’ and ‘nocturne’.

Travelling between Paris and London, we’ll see the impact of Whistler’s combative paintings on both sides of the Channel. Throughout we’ll explore some of the most iconic works of the 19th century. We’ll look at the enormous impact he had on the bright and thrilling future of cultural modernity and most importantly how he forced the world to question the very nature of art itself.