Alexander Arnold Hannay c. 1896

This is James McNeill Whistler's oil on canvas painting, *Alexander Arnold Hannay*. The canvas reveals a muted palette, predominated by shades of brown and black. The figure emerges softly from the background, achieved through delicate and almost indistinct brushstrokes. The composition emphasizes the verticality of the figure, contributing to a sense of formality. Whistler was interested in producing art for art's sake, focusing on aesthetic arrangements rather than narrative content. Here, form supersedes detail, a characteristic of Whistler’s aesthetic approach. The haziness of the image is reminiscent of the Symbolist movement, where suggestion is preferred over explicit representation. Whistler subtly invokes a mood that invites viewers to contemplate the interplay between visibility and obscurity, challenging traditional portraiture. Ultimately, Whistler invites us to focus on the aesthetic qualities of painting.