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A Professional - Whistler

"To the rare Few who early in life have rid themselves of the Friendship of the Many,
these pathetic papers are inscribed.": The dedication of "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies"; -by James Abbott McNeill Whistler

What is a real professional?

Sports first comes to mind with the super-famous and super-paid entertainers and sometimes athletes. Certain occupations claim to be "professional." Webster's only moderately helps with several definitions, but there are hints when we see that "professional" and to have a religious "profession" derive from the same Latin root. So who can truly claim the title of professional? Is a pressman or designer any less professional than a doctor or lawyer?

James Abott McNeill Whistler, was born in 1834, the son of an U.S. Army Engineer. Major George Washington Whistler moved his family to Russia to build railroads for the Czar. Young James learned Russian and French with his devoted mother beside him. It was natural that this "home-schooled" youth would also study his father's occupation. So he learned to be a draftsman.

When his father died suddenly, in Russia, his mother returned with the family to the United States and young Jimmy, through connections, was enrolled in West Point. The military and Jimmy Whistler were not suited for each other and he resigned. He took with him a memento of his military training. During a war game, he was hit in the forehead and lock of white hair grew among the curly dark hair. The caricaturists focused on this for the rest of his life.

Mother and son returned to Europe, this time to London. His devoted mother sought only the best for her son. Their residence put them in close proximity to the likes of Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Carlyle, and the "father of modern printing," William Morris. This social association influenced Whistler and he set off, with Mother, for Paris to study art.

In Paris, Whistler the artist began to take form. Some would say he was a promoter, but everything he did was for his art. His home was beautifully decorated and his social grace well known. Whistler's art exhibitions were well promoted and well attended. He was a professional artist in dress and appearance from his bow tie to his monocle. In public, he was known for his writing and speaking wit. Some would call him a "dandy." He was, however, the same person in private as in public. It was no pretense. He lived the part. He was a professional.

He was the first artist to advertise. He began to design invitation cards, catalogs, and posters. Enlarged public controversies with Oscar Wilde and John Ruskin also enlarged his public image. He even took the art critic John Ruskin to court over his criticism of a Whistler painting. The court awarded Whistler one farthing in damages. It was the principle of the matter and he enjoyed the battle and the victory over the famous critic.

He started to design booklets and then books to express his opinions. His opinions went beyond the verbal ideas to typographic expression. He used only common materials at hand in his book production. No imported papers, special inks or new typefaces were used. His designs were simple; void of excessive ornamentation, but proportional and beautiful to look at and to hold.

His trademarks were plain brown paper covers and a simple interwoven initials, J.M.W., that evolved into his "Butterfly Signature." He used this on all of his printed work and on some of his art. He designed all of his own booklets and books as well as covers for other authors. His best examples of typographic design are in his books, "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies" (1890) and "The Baronet and the Butterfly" (1899).

To his friends he was a "wit who painted pictures." To typographers he was a creative genius who used common materials to make extraordinary books. To readers his sharp pen could precisely express an idea and take apart a critic without profanity. To book lovers, the design of his works were simple masterpieces. Everything he did was for his profession - art. No matter what he put his hand and mind to, in public or private life, he did it with a passion to be the best he was always the true professional.

To his mother, he was the devoted son and student. The son who through his art made his mother the most famous mother in art history. Anna Matilda McNeil Whistler was the subject of the famous painting, "The Mother," popularly known as "Whistler's Mother."

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	A Professional - Whistler "To the rare Few who early in life have rid themselves of the Friendship of the Many, these pathetic papers are inscribed." The dedication of "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies" -by James Abbott McNeill Whistler What is a real professional? Sports first comes to mind with the super-famous and super-paid entertainers and sometimes athletes. Certain occupations claim to be "professional." Webster's only moderately helps with several definitions, but there are hints when we see that "professional" and to have a religious "profession" derive from the same Latin root. So who can truly claim the title of professional? Is a pressman or designer any less professional than a doctor or lawyer? James Abott McNeill Whistler, was born in 1834, the son of an U.S. Army Engineer. Major George Washington Whistler moved his family to Russia to build railroads for the Czar. Young James learned Russian and French with his devoted mother beside him. It was natural that this "home-schooled" youth would also study his father's occupation. So he learned to be a draftsman. When his father died suddenly, in Russia, his mother returned with the family to the United States and young Jimmy, through connections, was enrolled in West Point. The military and Jimmy Whistler were not suited for each other and he resigned. He took with him a memento of his military training. During a war game, he was hit in the forehead and lock of white hair grew among the curly dark hair. The caricaturists focused on this for the rest of his life. Mother and son returned to Europe, this time to London. His devoted mother sought only the best for her son. Their residence put them in close proximity to the likes of Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Carlyle, and the "father of modern printing," William Morris. This social association influenced Whistler and he set off, with Mother, for Paris to study art. In Paris, Whistler the artist began to take form. Some would say he was a promoter, but everything he did was for his art. His home was beautifully decorated and his social grace well known. Whistler's art exhibitions were well promoted and well attended. He was a professional artist in dress and appearance from his bow tie to his monocle. In public, he was known for his writing and speaking wit. Some would call him a "dandy." He was, however, the same person in private as in public. It was no pretense. He lived the part. He was a professional. He was the first artist to advertise. He began to design invitation cards, catalogs, and posters. Enlarged public controversies with Oscar Wilde and John Ruskin also enlarged his public image. He even took the art critic John Ruskin to court over his criticism of a Whistler painting. The court awarded Whistler one farthing in damages. It was the principle of the matter and he enjoyed the battle and the victory over the famous critic. He started to design booklets and then books to express his opinions. His opinions went beyond the verbal ideas to typographic expression. He used only common materials at hand in his book production. No imported papers, special inks or new typefaces were used. His designs were simple; void of excessive ornamentation, but proportional and beautiful to look at and to hold. His trademarks were plain brown paper covers and a simple interwoven initials, J.M.W., that evolved into his "Butterfly Signature." He used this on all of his printed work and on some of his art. He designed all of his own booklets and books as well as covers for other authors. His best examples of typographic design are in his books, "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies" (1890) and "The Baronet and the Butterfly" (1899). To his friends he was a "wit who painted pictures." To typographers he was a creative genius who used common materials to make extraordinary books. To readers his sharp pen could precisely express an idea and take apart a critic without profanity. To book lovers, the design of his works were simple masterpieces. Everything he did was for his profession - art. No matter what he put his hand and mind to, in public or private life, he did it with a passion to be the best he was always the true professional. To his mother, he was the devoted son and student. The son who through his art made his mother the most famous mother in art history. Anna Matilda McNeil Whistler was the subject of the famous painting, "The Mother," popularly known as "Whistler's Mother." Copyright © 1998 by Frank Granger Table of Contents
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