James McNeill Whistler is considered one of the great innovators of 19th century art. A contemporary of the Impressionists, he was much admired by Van Gogh and Manet. Boldly experimental and famously witty, Whistler disrupted the strict conventions of Victorian society in pursuit of a new cult of beauty, championing the idea of art for art's sake and securing his place in the history of great art.

Whistler drew a parallel between painting and music, titling many of his works "arrangements", "harmonies" and "nocturnes" to emphasise the importance of tonal harmony. His most famous painting, Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (1871) — widely known as Whistler's Mother — is a revered and often parodied portrait of motherhood, and one of the most recognised paintings in history.

This Exhibition on Screen film explores the man behind the masterpiece, offering an in-depth look at Whistler's life, ideas and lasting influence on the art world.