Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket

The painting:

 Whistler's Nocturne in Black and Gold is an "artistic impression" based on a nighttime scene of fireworks that the artist saw over London's Cremorne Gardens. This scene, in Whistler's mind at least, was the perfect subject for one of his "Nocturnes." He painted it not with the objective of making it look realistic but instead with the goal of capturing the atmosphere and his memory of the place ; something that he hoped to convey to the public. American artists see the subject as "intrinsically modern." Critics at the time had different opinions...

Controversy:

    When most people of today think of controversial art their minds are almost always steered toward sexually explicit, sacrilegious, or politically incorrect images. But in 1875, James Whistler's Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket was the very definition of a controversial work of art. Although scholars of today look at this piece as the high point of Whistler's middle period, critics of the 19th century saw it as confusing, incomprehensible and even insulting. One such critic, John Ruskin, had this to say about the "nocturne":

  "For 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."

     Ruskin said that Whistler was a "coxcomb," or a pretentious fop, and that asking two hundred guineas for  "flinging a pot of paint in the publics face" was outrageous. Because Ruskin was such an influential voice in the art world at the time and so many people read the criticism, Whistler sued for libel. A trial ensued and eventually Whistler came out to be the victor. He was awarded one farthing (roughly a few pennies) for winning the case but was pleased with the symbolic victory nonetheless.  Years later the painting sold for 800 guineas. An accomplishment that Whistler was not going to let go unnoticed: 

“the Pot of paint flung in the face of the British Public for two hundred guineas has sold for four pots of paint, and that Ruskin has lived to see it!”

My thoughts: 

     I personally enjoy this painting quite a bit. The high contrast between the sheets of dark and the splashes of light combine perfectly to convey an air of mystery and what I believe to be an intentionally ambiguous theme. The open interpretation of the piece helps to keep the painting relevant and intriguing in my eyes. The wide range of emotions that Whistler is able to provoke from "flinging a pot of paint" is incredible and clearly justifies his large influence on generations of artists.