James McNeill Whistler: An American Painter Abroad

About the Class

American artist James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) is one of the defining figures of 19th-century modernism, famed for his iconoclastic paintings and provocative public persona. After leaving the United States at 21, Whistler embraced bohemian life in Paris and later traveled between Paris and London, shaping a career that bridged cultures.

In this four-session online course, we’ll explore Whistler’s approach to painting, which broke artistic norms by emphasizing mood and beauty over narrative storytelling. We’ll also examine his relationships with contemporaries such as Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas and his engagement with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in England.

Though Whistler never returned to the United States, younger generations of American artists sought him out in Europe, eager to meet the influential painter who was paving his own path abroad.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical-thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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About the Series

Spotlight on American art! This October, we’re offering four new classes on four groundbreaking American painters. Sign up for one or enroll in all four at a discounted rate.

From the international career of James McNeill Whistler to the singular vision of Mary Cassatt, from Thomas Eakins’s Philadelphia realism to Aaron Douglas’s Harlem Renaissance modernism, these courses examine how American artists responded to changing ideas about identity, culture, and artistic expression.

Through close looking, discussion, and historical context, you’ll engage deeply with the people, places, and ideas that continue to shape conversations about American art today.

What Students Are Saying

“Joe Tokumasu Field was a wonderful instructor. He’s patient, caring, and skilled at interacting with students’ questions and comments.” —The Japanese American Century with Joseph Tokumasu Field

“This was an exciting course with fascinating and informative lectures and well-chosen pictures. Franits is a brilliant teacher.” —17th-Century Dutch Art’s “Holy Trinity”: Hals, Rembrandt, and Vermeer with Wayne Franits

“The instructor was outstanding in every way—an expert in the subject, enthusiastic about the material, solicitous and supportive of students’ observations, and brilliant in expanding our discussion as warranted. The best Barnes instructor I’ve had, by far.” —The Nabis: Late 19th-Century Prophets of the New with Larissa Bailiff

“I enjoyed the course very much and liked how each week focused on a different topic relevant to the subject. Caterina is an engaging speaker, and you can tell she loves what she is teaching. Her enthusiasm and sense of humor come through.” —Famous Heists: Crimes in the History of Art with Caterina Pierre

“I felt at peace afterward and appreciated the art so much more than before.” —Being Present with Art: Cultivating Balance for Spring with Roksana Filipowska