James McNeill Whistler was one of the 19th century’s most radical artistic voices, rejecting Victorian convention to pursue a new vision of “art for art’s sake.” Inspired by music, he reimagined painting through tone and harmony, creating works he called “arrangements” and “nocturnes.” Best known for Whistler’s Mother, one of the most iconic images in art history, this film reveals the artist behind the masterpiece, set against Tate Britain’s landmark retrospective of his work.

“An artist is not paid for his labour but for his vision.”
James McNeil Whistler

“A major retrospective of a truly global artist”
Time Out