Impressionism is now a dominant international style,…

Impressionism is now a dominant international style, but James Abbott Whistler, though keen on painting after nature, never uses the radiant colors or technique of the Impressionists.

Whistler may feel that he is out of step with modern movements, but he is happiest in painting small studies of townscape and seascape that reflect the influence of Corot.

He makes many etchings and lithographs, but—significantly at a time when color lithographs are becoming popular—only three or four of his are in color.

His black-and-white lithographs, however, are splendid.