The Artist And His Model: Whistler And Joana Hiffernan

Presented by Joanne Rhymer

Whistler’s painting, Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl (1862) is both monumental and modern. Though its scale recalls grand portraits, Whistler’s innovative technique and overall treatment of the subject resist straightforward interpretation. In this presentation we will examine Joanna Hiffernan’s role in his art and life. Was she simply his model and lover? Or could she have been an essential collaborator who influenced Whistler’s artistic vision, assisting him in his development of a new pictorial language? This talk draws on themes in the Royal Academy’s exhibition in 2022, Whistler’s Woman in White: Joanna Hiffernan (26 February-22 May 2022).

Dates and Locations

Thursday 7 May 2026 Shoalhaven (NSW)

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