Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six Marks

James Abbott McNeill Whistler1864Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six MarksThe Artist:1834-1903Born in Massachusetts in 1834Father was an engineerTravelled to Russia and England as a boyReturned to US after Fathers deathEnrolled at West PointLittle success as student of military artsNot academic success1855: After working briefly as a cartographer emigrated to Europe

The Artist: ContinuedInterested in art at early ageArt classes in St. Petersburg from 1845-48Continued while travelling in London in 1847-48Moved to Paris, adopted bohemian lifestyleStudied at studio of Charles Gleyre, mentor to French ImpressionistsBefriended Gustave CourbetSelf directed study copied works of those he admiredRembrandt van RijnLearnt to create emotional and evocative works with limited range of tonesThe Artist: ContinuedContradiction to Academies in France and EnglandDid not think art had to be moralizing or enlighteningAcademic painters valued history paintingPromoted art for arts sakePieces evocative, capture moods and emotions through subtle use of colorTitled pieces to recall music and its emotive effectsEx. Symphony in White, No.1: The White Girl(1862), Arrangement in Grey and Black: The Artists Mother(1871), Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket(1874)

Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling RocketMade Whistler FamousCritic John Ruskin(Turner Supporter) criticized in harsh termsFlinging a pot of paint in the publics faceWhistler sued and won libel caseLittle compensationTrial included discussion of the goal of art and the role of the artist

Eastern Influence in France1870s Impressionists in France fascinated by Japanese ArtEspecially inexpensive woodblock printsClaude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh collected hundreds, influence on work clearly visibleWhistler began incorporating these influences years beforeLike contemporaries in England, Great admirer of Chinese art, especially porcelainRoyal academy viewers of Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six Marks would recognize blue and white porcelain objects

Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six MarksPurple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six MarksSmall painting focusing on female figure surrounded by beautiful Chinese objects, likely part of Whistlers collectionModel Joanna HiffernanWhistlers Mistress in the 1860sModeled for number of his worksEx. Symphony in White, No.1: The White Girl and Symphony in White, No.2 The Little White Girl(1864-65)Also had relationship with Courbet, posed in his studioPurple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six MarksShown seated in a relaxed, casual poseBody marks diagonal line from the lower left to upper right cornerNearly fills frameDressed in Chinese brocade robe Decorated with floral motif in peach and roseUnder layer and trim on robe in dark purple(Inspired Philadelphia Museum of Art title Purple and RoseSupports blue and white object in left hand, brush in right hand like she is imagining herself painting vesselMake up accentuates features, hair pulled back tightly, to imitate Chinese courtly fashion

Purple and Rose: The Lange Leizen of the Six MarksSurrounding Hiffernan, number of Chinese objects laid out as if on displaySeveral blue and whiteTeacup and large ginger jarPainted fan decorated with a crane and a trayGroup of brushes on table behind herA few other objects to detract form Hiffernan and surrounding imports Colors in background are beige and brown, more vivid tones of robe and porcelain are accentuatedThe PorcelainObjects highlighted are Whistlers own.He is an avid collector Featured porcelain is blue and whiteFirst produced in about the 14th century17th Century created for export to EuropeEuropeans later copy stylesLange Leizen is a pattern with willowy ladies; Long ElizaSix Marks refers to the markings that verify authenticityWorld at the timeObsession with Chinese porcelain connected to a rise in the consumption of Chinese tea in the early 19th centuryBy the time this work is painted 90% of the tea in England was from China