Violet and Blue: The Little Bathers 1888

"Violet and Blue: The Little Bathers" is an oil painting on canvas by American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler, created in 1888. The small-scale work, measuring 12.7 x 21.59 cm, depicts a seascape with bathers, a characteristic subject of Whistler's artistic career. The muted, impressionistic palette evokes the hazy atmosphere of a coastal scene, featuring a distinct contrast between the cool blue-green hues of the water and the warm, sandy tones of the beach. Whistler's focus on color and atmospheric effects is evident in this painting, which exemplifies his aesthetic philosophy of art for art's sake, often referred to as "art for art's sake," or "l'art pour l'art."