Nocturne In Black And Gold: The Falling Rocket

Throughout the course of history, art has changed in vast number of ways. Dating back to the Pre-Colombian era of art, you are able to find sculptors, mounds and other artwork on Native American culture. Native Americans believed in pantheism which is the worship of nature. Native Americans were seen as savages because they lived in nature, they worshipped nature, wore off clothing that didn’t cover their bodies fully. They performed ceremonies that have seemed peculiar to explorers during the exploration of the New World such Christopher Columbus. However, art has evolved in so many different ways imaginable. The use of colors, unique styles, reflections from lighting outdoors and the imagination of the artist can really put

on a canvas something out of this world or even in architecture. There have been many great artists who influenced art in so many ways such as Andrea Palladio, John Singleton Copley, Benjamin West, Winslow Homer, Lily Martin Spencer, Thomas Eakins, and James Abbot McNeill Whistler. These are only just a few who had significant impacts on how art is being displayed today but there are so many more artists that I could name that have had impacts on modern art. At first, art was a subject that never interested me or had my attention in any way but ever since I started to learn about American artists and see the kind of art work they made really surprised me. I actually started to fall in love because of how magnificent some of these pieces of art are, it is truly breathtaking. I could have never imagined that the human hands, eyes, the mind of an artist, the artists, feelings, likes and dislikes can create something so beautiful. James Abbot McNeill is one artist who really drew my attention to art. James Whistler in my opinion is one the greatest American artist because of his use of both impressionistic and tonalism in his art. In Whistler’s painting, Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket of 1875 (Floryan, 2016). In this painting, Whistler’s use of numerous colors, details, the loose brush strokes, and abstract point of view is what makes him such a distinctive and courageous artist. Although I feel like this is one of greatest paintings during the Gilded Age of America, others may not see what an artist is trying to depict or even see the beauty in abstract art. John Ruskin was one of these people who didn’t see the beauty in Whistler’s Nocturne in Black and Gold and which eventually led to a libel case in court.
James Abbot McNeill Whistler was born on July 10, 1834 in Lowell, Massachusetts (Phillips Collection, n.d.). His father Major George Whistler was a railroad engineer and was offered a job in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1849 after the death of his father, he returned to the U.S and attended West Point, a military based school. However, his behavior and academic standing led to his dismissal. Whistler had to earn income so he started to draw and make etchings of topographical maps for the U.S Coast and Geodetic Survey (Phillips Collection, n.d.). Whistler moved to Paris and then to London continuing to on his etchings. In London, his style started to change and he began to create abstract pieces of art. After his famous libel case with art critic, John Ruskin, Whistler was bankrupt and had no income. But in 1879, he went to Venice where he would work on etching, paint, using the same style that people see as abnormal and even going to Holland (Phillips Collection, n.d.). After a few short years, Whistler returned to London in 1895, the same place that caused his downfall. In 1898, James was the new president of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers. Whistler’s work started to become in demand, his brand that was once abstract was now striving. James Whistler died in London in 1903 (Phillips Collection, n.d.), inspiring artists with his unique style of art.
James Abbot McNeill Whistler was a very talented expatriate, his extensive knowledge of unique styles such as impressionistic, tonalism, being a lithographer and etcher made his work distinctive. During the Gilded Age of America during the 19th century, the primary issues were industrialization and immigration. The Gilded Age made famous by Mark Twain because of the economic growth but also corruption in politics and government (Shoomp, n.d.). The U.S economy grew, the country grew with the development of railroad system, corporate businesses began to rise, oil, lumber and gold demand boomed (Spark Notes, 2016). The railroad system spread throughout the country and allowed food, materials and people to travel across the country faster. But everything good has a bad sad. Factory and other industrial works and farmer had to work extensive hours to meet new demands and sometimes in harsh conditions, with unfair wages (Shoomp, n.d.). The Gilded Age introduced the tonalism and impressionistic styles of art. These styles of art differed from traditional forms of painting, which show color being blended on the canvas. In tonalism, the colors are broad and spread out onto the canvas, the scene is often calm, quiet, and the picture appears flat and can often be seen as abstract. Impressionistic art is quite different from tonalism in many ways. In this style of art, you can see loose brush stroke which differ from traditional forms which appear blended. There are no straight lines, very detailed, thick amounts of paints and use of different hues. Édouard Manet was one of the first artists from Paris to start using the impressionistic style (Wolf, 2016). Manet could be called avant garde, someone who does something before everyone starts doing it. The term “impressionistic” was derived from Claude Monet’s painting, Impression, Sunrise, 1873 (Wolf, 2016). James Whistler spent several years in Paris, adapting to the techniques of the impressionistic movement.
James Whistler’s, Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket c.

1875, was influenced by London’s Cremorne Gardens (Marcil & VanDyke, n.d.). This painting was part of a collection of paintings he called “nocturnes” (Wilmer, 2012). The title of the painting contains the word nocturne, which in terms give the impression that the painting depicts a night time atmosphere. Whistler was infatuated with the scenery of the river in the night since you are able to see different lights in the water from the reflections of the stars, moon, boats and lamps (Wilmer, 2012). During the night Whistler would go on boat rides then make sketches of what he saw; these sketches would eventually become nocturnes (Wilmer, 2012). The painting is supposed to represent a scene of fireworks being discharge over London’s Cremorne Garden on the Thames (Marcil & VanDyke, n.d.). In the mist of the smoke and dark hues, you can see water on bottom showing reflections of the scene. Whistler’s use of different hues in the scene creates a gaze in my opinion and really draws the public’s attention. The entire scene is primarily dim with the use of black, dark blue and dark green (Wilmer, 2012). The fireworks are shown in bright colors such as orange, red, pink, yellow and green (Wilmer, 2012). Whistler uses contemporary colors, which is the use opposite colors for effect or to grab the public’s attention. We see this being replicated in later works such as Childe Hassam’s, The El, New

York, 1849. Hassam is another great artist who uses the impressionistic style. In his painting, Hassam uses contemporary colors to depict artificial lighting and focus the public eyes on these colorful scenes and his use of loose brush strokes. Hassam is depicting a nocturne scene, showing New York City life at night being just as busy as it in modern times. It just goes to show how inspirational James Whistler was influencing many artists and helping to set a base for different styles of painting that exist now.
In 1878, James Whistler sued John Ruskin for libel. Libel is when someone writes something about you that is false or defames your name. Ruskin was a well known art critic in Europe and made harsh remarks on Whistlers painting, Nocturne in Black and Gold. Ruskin as stated,
“For Mr. Whistler’s own sake, no less than for the protection of the purchaser, Sir Coutts Lindsay ought not to have admitted works into the gallery in which the ill-educated conceit of the artist so nearly approached the aspect of willful imposture. I have seen, and heard, much of cockney impudence before now; but never expected to hear a coxcomb ask two guineas for flinging a pot of paint in the public’s face” (McCoubrey, 181).

Whistler could not stand how someone could disrespect his name and work.

Whistler defended his name and work by saying that the painting represents fireworks over a garden and it was a completed painting. The painting took two days of labor to complete and that is why he asked two hundred guineas. Whistler eventually won the case and was awarded 1,000 guineas but eventually went bankrupt (McCoubrey, 181).
Nocturne in Black and Gold maybe be seen as a form of abstract art by many which you can say it is. When people look at this specific scene, they see different colors just splattered on the canvas, no specific shapes or lines but just an explosion of color everywhere but this is an element of the impressionistic style. Those who look at Nocturne in Black and Gold might think it took a day or even hours just to create. But they are wrong. James Whistler when being asked how long he took to knock off or paint this picture stated,
“Let us say then long did I take to “knock off”, I think that is it- to knock off that nocturne; well, as well as I remember, about a day. Only a day? Well, I won’t be quite positive; I may have still put a few more touches to it the next day if the painting were not dry. I had better say then, that I was two days at work on it” (McCoubrey,

182).

James Whistler spent two days of labor on completing Nocturne in Black and Gold. In all fairness, Whistler as an artist was entitled to ask for how much he felt the painting was worth since the painting depicts such a unique display of hues and abstract scene.
During his life, James Abbot McNeill Whistler may have been seen as quite peculiar and odd like his artwork but his talent was unmatched. The Gilded Age provided a time for artists to expand and explore other styles of art either in painting or in architecture. In tonalism, the colors are broad and spread out onto the canvas, the scene is calm, quiet, and can be seen as abstract. In impressionism you can see loose brush stroke which differ from traditional blending. You’ll also see little to none straight lines and thick amounts of paints and use of different hues. Whistler and other artist such as Monet, Hassam were all influenced by Manet’s abstract style. When the public see’s his work some may not picture what he intends to show or depict and completely regards it beauty. Ruskin was one of these people who didn’t see the beauty in Whistler’s work and defaming his name and style. But it just goes to show, that one must never give but continue to do what they love and eventually things will fall back into place. Whistler said,
“It is for an artist to do something beyond this: in portrait painting to put something on canvas more than just the face the models wears for that day; to paint the man, in short, as well in his features; in arrangement of colors to treat a flower as his key, not as his model” (McCoubrey, 186).

James Whistler puts on canvas something that goes beyond just the surface of what he sees and Nocturne in Black and Gold is a true example of that. What is art? This is the question some find hard to answer because no one really knows an exact definition. I think art is what whatever an artist wants to depict. It all starts with an artist’s idea and vision of something but it is up to the viewer to agree or disagree with the artists’ depiction of “art”.