Writing Whistler is an online critical edition of Whistler’s writings on art and other topics, including The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, his own edition of selected writings, first published in 1890. The edition is based on an unrivalled collection of manuscript material, proof copies and published editions of Whistler’s writings which form part of the Whistler Archive in the Archives &l Special Collections department, University of Glasgow Library. The project also draws on the residue of Whistler’s own personal library (which is also held by the Library), and his press-cuttings books, recently digitised with funding from the Lunder Foundation.
Whistler’s key writings are presented here in accessible digital format and our approach is to preserve as much of the original layout and typography of each work as possible, including his distinctive butterfly signatures that adorn many of the texts. Our goal is that they should offer a reliable online resource for study, discussion and comparison of the texts and their wider historical and cultural significance that complements existing online research projects on Whistler, including the correspondence edition and catalogues of his paintings and etchings.
We plan to expand the number of texts and editions cumulatively and the edition will be further enhanced by an editorial apparatus incorporating research discussions of aspects of Whistler's writings and aesthetic theories from leading scholars in the field. Please check back with the website regularly for updates.
Dr Vivien Estelle Williams
Dr Luca Guariento