Subject Painting

The majority of Victorian paintings were narrative paintings inspired by history, literature, classical mythology, the Bible or modern life. Early in his career Whistler turned his back on this kind of painting, believing the real subject of art to lie in the decorative arrangement of colour, line and shape. However, his very early pictures were inspired by the modern life subject matter of Gustave Courbet and of the British Pre-Raphaelite painters. Wapping and The White Girl were connected with current concerns about prostitution and sexuality. Yet at the same time Whistler was experimenting with the patterning of line and the tonal harmony of colour. He went on to claim that this was his only interest. You will notice that most of the figures in his paintings, for example, the young women dressed in kimonos and surrounded by oriental accessories, are not involved in any activities but are simply presented as decorative objects to be admired for their beauty alone.