What subjects did James McNeill Whistler paint in his Nocturne series?

James McNeill Whistler’s Nocturne series primarily depicts scenes of London, with a particular focus on the area of Chelsea and views along the River Thames.12

These works are characterized by their poetic intensity and a fin de siècle atmosphere. Rather than painting directly from the scene, Whistler typically based these compositions on memory or pencil sketches, employing a specialized technique where he applied paint in a liquid state—which he called "sauce"—using rapid brushstrokes reminiscent of Japanese calligraphy.2

The series title was suggested by his patron, Frederick R. Leyland, to emphasize the artist's belief that painting could evoke the same emotional and abstract effects as music. Notable examples from this series include:12

• Nocturne: Blue and Silver—Chelsea (1871), which depicts a view across the Thames from Battersea toward Chelsea.1
• Nocturne in Black and Gold, the Falling Rocket (1875), a work that famously became the subject of a libel suit against John Ruskin.2
• Nocturne: Blue and Gold—Old Battersea Bridge (c. 1872–75), which reflects his strong interest in East Asian art.2