Nocturne: Blue and Gold—Southampton Water

1872

In the 1870s James McNeill Whistler took a radical step toward abstraction with his "Nocturnes" series. In keeping with his art-for-art’s-sake creed, these works capture the stillness of evening while evoking the artistry of music. The subject of this work—an inlet along the English Channel—is obscured by the approaching night, allowing Whistler to fully explore the tonal harmonies of darkness.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903)

Date

1872

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

51 × 76.7 cm (20 1/16 × 30 3/16 in.)

Origin

London

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Stickney Fund