Nocturne: Le Solent by James Whistler

“Le Solent” is the name of the ship in which Whistler returned from South America in 1886. What prompted the artist to travel across the Atlantic – is unknown. Perhaps the reason was the break with Joanna, or maybe Whistler left Europe to take part in the military conflict between Chile and Spain, because in his youth he was a student at the Military Academy at West Point. However, during his stay in South America, Whistler did not depict a single battle, did not write a single battle scene. He concentrated his attention on topics that are closer to him: boundless distances, ports and, of course, the sea.

“Noktrjurn: Le Solent” – one of the most successful landscapes of Whistler. Wide horizontal strokes give the impression of smooth and weightless and accurately imitate the swaying surface of the water. This technique of performance distinguishes this landscape from the realist paintings of Courbet with their specificity and materiality. Whistler, to portray floating ships and the light emanating from them, enough tremulous small strokes. The artist strives to convey the very atmosphere of a wonderful evening.