Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl
James McNeill Whistler · 1860
Why it's great
A young woman in a long white dress stands on a white fur rug against a white curtain. Whistler wanted a painting of harmony in color, like music. The model was Joanna Hiffernan, his partner. It was rejected from the Salon but exhibited at the 'Salon of the Rejected.'
Where to see it
📍 National Gallery of ArtWashington, D.C., United States
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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James McNeill Whistler was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in the United States, and spent his childhood partly in Russia. He moved to Europe as a young man and lived in Paris and London, where he became one of the most famous (and sharp-tongued) artists in the world. He titled paintings like pieces of music, such as 'Nocturne' and 'Arrangement.' He died in London in 1903.
