Artwork Page for Nocturne

Details / Information for Nocturne

Nocturne

1878

James McNeill Whistler

(American, 1834–1903)
Culture
America
Medium
lithograph on chine collé
Measurements
Sheet: 17.1 x 26 cm (6 3/4 x 10 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Charles T. Brooks 1941.89
Catalogue raisonné
Way 5
State
only state
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Whistler was the first to borrow musical terms for the titles of his works of art. In 1872, he defined painting as "the exact correlative of music, as vague, as purely emotional, as released from all functions of representation." Whistler’s use of musical terminology was meant to convey the supremacy of color, line, and form over subject matter in his art. The title Nocturne was suggested by the artist’s patron, Frederick Leyland, an enthusiastic amateur pianist who was especially fond of Chopin, whose nocturnes were regarded as the epitome of Romantic mood music—particularly appropriate for Whistler’s moonlit marine views.
A horizontally oriented lithograph in grainy, muted grays depicts a hazy skyline blurred across water. In the foreground, a silhouetted figure in a small boat bends forward above soft, vertical reflections. Behind, three tall chimneys and a domed building are briefly sketched against a foggy sky. A small butterfly emblem in the lower right marks this atmospheric scene, where the industrial city dissolves into a gray mist.

Nocturne

1878

James McNeill Whistler

(American, 1834–1903)
America

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork