The Falling Rocket by James Abbot McNeil Whistler

The Falling Rocket by James Abbot McNeil Whistler

   The painting Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket (1872-77), done by James Abbott McNeill Whistler, began a debate of the definition of art. The famous British art critic John Ruskin, believed that “art possessed the power to improve society,” and when Ruskin discovered Whistler’s work, he was instantly irritated. The Falling Rocket does not represent “nature truthfully,” as Ruskin said it should be. He believed Whistler was only here for one thing; MONEY, and putting this poorly done work up on display, was insulting. 

"The ill-educated conceit of the artist... 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 hundred guineas for flinging a pot of paint in the public's face."

-Ruskin

   Whistler’s response to Ruskin about the review ended with a lawsuit for “libel”.  The highly publicized trial sparked debates on classifying what art is. Whistler believed that true art served no social purpose whatsoever; it was “Art for Art’s Sake.” Those who believed in Art for Art’s Sake felt that beauty was “simply the measure of a work’s ability to stimulate a pleasing aesthetic sensation”, it should not be threatened with the work’s usefulness.

“Art, has become foolishly confounded with education”- Whistler.

   Personally, when I see this painting as well as reflect on the title, I feel an explosion of music go in my head. It’s as if I am hearing "1812 Overture" composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; I reminded mainly due to the movie “V for Vendetta”. The last scene where the subway, that holds V’s dead body, is activated to go in the direction of Parliament and Big Ben (London), ending with the buildings explosion (with fireworks). Now that I think about it, the painting took place in London, more specifically, in Battersea Bridge in an industrial London city park.

(Last scene of “V for Vendetta”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8UtojJT8ts

Arnason, H. Harvard. History of Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1968. Print.