"Pygmy Paintings with Big Souls"

Evidently the famous artist of the late 19th James McNeil Whistler shared a Passion for Small Paintings, too. An ongoing exhibit of Whistler's small masterpieces are on view at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The exhibit includes 23 paintings that do not exceed 9 inches in either direction. According to the article Whistler began to dedicate his work to creating small paintings in deference to equating size with importance. They were received with mixed reviews when exhibited back in 1886. One inspired critic saw their beauty and called them pygmy paintings with big souls. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/current/smallMasterpieces.htm"> I love it!