Whistler in Watercolor: Lovely Little Games

by Lee Glazer, Emily Jacobson, Blythe McCarthy

A focused investigation of Whistler’s watercolors that introduces readers to a rarely seen aspect of the artist’s creative output

In the 1880s, James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) reinvented himself through the medium of watercolor. At the time, excellence in watercolor was most often associated with British artists, and most notably with the work of J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851). Whistler’s embrace of watercolor allowed the expatriate artist to present himself as an heir to the great Turner, while at the same time creating easily portable works that could supply an American market and, the artist hoped, help secure his art-historical legacy in his home country. Indeed, it was the American Gilded Age industrialist Charles Lang Freer who would amass the largest collection of Whistler’s watercolors, eventually bequeathing them to the Smithsonian in 1906. This publication is the first systematic study of Freer’s amazing treasure trove of more than 50 watercolors by Whistler and includes figures, landscapes, nocturnes, and interiors. Providing both an art-historical context that looks into the contemporary reception of the works, as well as rigorous scientific analysis of Whistler’s materials and techniques, this volume offers a groundbreaking look into an overlooked segment of the celebrated artist’s oeuvre. 

Distributed for Freer|Sackler, Smithsonian

Exhibition Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
(05/18/19–10/06/19)

288 pages, Hardcover

Published June 25, 2019

Reviews

[Drew Plummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written and beautifully published exportation of Whistler’s oeuvre in watercolor, primarily through a detailed look of the Freer catalog. This book walks a perfect line between accessibility to the layman -with explanations of paper types, brushwork techniques, and technical nuances- and a thorough scholarly exploration of whistler’s larger artistic career. As companion to a trip to the Freer, a guide to students of Whistler’s career, watercolorists looking for inspiration or American/British art of the late 1800s this book is sure to be a gem on any shelf

[Andrea Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent exploration of a much-neglected facet of Whistler’s oeuvre ... originally influenced by Turner, Whistler soon emerged as a veritable master of the medium ... splendid color illustrations reveal the variety and nuance of these fragile artworks ... also discussed are the artist’s relationships with his clients, most notably Charles Lang Freer ...

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't familiar with Whistler's water colors. After seeing some of his other art, these watercolors are very different. And quite beautiful. They have a very peaceful quality to them.

The book actually goes into great description of the paintings, which I found interesting, but got greater enjoyment at just viewing the artwork.