Green and Blue: The Dancer

Green and Blue: The Dancer by James McNeill Whistler: Inspired by Greek sculpture and Japanese prints, James McNeill Whistler became entranced with portraying…

What to notice

For Green and Blue: The Dancer, start with modern, expressive, atmospheric. Compare the focal subject, edge treatment, and atmosphere before moving to another James McNeill Whistler work.

Discover

Inspired by Greek sculpture and Japanese prints, James McNeill Whistler became entranced with portraying the female form clad in diaphanous drapery in the 1890s. He developed this theme in all the media in which he worked, including transfer lithography, oil, pastel, and watercolor. The artist usually provided garments for his models to wear, often classical gossamer gowns with high waists and crossed bodices paired with brightly colored kerchiefs. His models needed a certain degree of strength and agility, as he…