International studio (40.1910)

Whistler Loan Exhibition

Lent by John G. Johnson

THE LANGE LEIZEN BY WHISTLER

OF THE SIX MARKS
PURPLE AND ROSE

an unmistakable impression on the visitor of that
mastery which has become an accepted common-
place of criticism. In the " Ten o'Clock " the polemic
artist has something to say about exhibitions in
which the works are spread on view for the "delec-
tation of the bagmen." Here is Whistler in the
immortal seat of the scornful producing thrills
of delight for all the bagman tribe.

Much nonsense has been devised about Whistler,
first, at his prime, in decrying him and later, at his
fame, in exalting him. Much nonsense about
Whistler was perpetrated by Whistler himself.
The Pennells, who are not given to nonsense, in
their biography support the thesis that the super-
ficial extravagance of attitude was deliberately
assumed in the struggle for artistic survival, that
Whistler clung to his personal oddities to avoid
being smothered in hostile obscurity. This idea
is perhaps a little difficult to accept. It taxes
credulity to imagine what would have taken place
on this theory if Whistler had at the start been ac-

claimed without dissent. The picture of Whistler
going through life with his own particular chip,
his butterfly, on his shoulder is too deeply impressed
upon us to permit us to imagine that his course
would ever have been placid. Like many men of
shy and tender temperament he was at least half
the time spoiling for a fight. If he seldom found
steel worthy of his honorable metal the exercise
perhaps sharpened the agility and heightened the
deftness of his artistic exploits.

It is somewhat the fashion at present to regard
Whistler in two separate aspects, in one of which

Portrait oj F. R. Leyland Freer Collection, National Gallery

ARRANGEMENT IN BLACK BY WHISTLER

LXI