Page "James Abbott McNeill Whistler" Paragraph 80

Whistler was inspired by and incorporated many sources in his art, including the work of Rembrandt, Velázquez, Japanese art, and ancient Greek sculpture to develop his own highly influential and individual style.

He was adept in many media, with over 500 paintings, as well as etchings, pastels, watercolors, drawings, and lithographs.

Whistler was a leader in the Aesthetic Movement, promoting, writing, and lecturing on the " art for art's sake " philosophy.

With his pupils, he advocated simple design, economy of means, the avoidance of over-labored technique, and the tonal harmony of the final result.

Whistler has been the subject of many major museum exhibitions, studies, and publications.

Like the Impressionists, he employed nature as an artistic resource.

Whistler insisted that it was the artist's obligation to interpret what he saw, not be a slave to reality, and to " bring forth from chaos glorious harmony ".