James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) was a central figure in the artistic life of mid-19th-century Paris and London. His distinct aesthetic--appreciating a work of art as an arrangement of colors, lines, and shapes, was a precursor for the abstract art of the 20th century. This retrospective brings together Whistler's letters, interviews, and other writings--many previously unpublished. In letters to other artists, family, and patrons, Whistler discusses his principles of composition, his use of the terms "Nocturne" and "Symphony," the rights of dealers and owners, and his celebrated libel suit against John Ruskin. This collection illuminates the work of a major artist and an artistic milieu at a pivotal crossroads.