How did Whistler paint his famous Nocturnes?
Tate · Published on August 7, 2026
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Description
Can you tell what types of brushes an artist used just by looking at their paintings? Jane McCree in the Tate Paintings Conservation Studio shows us how to look for clues in the painting's surface, and reveals the brushes that Whistler may have used to make his most celebrated works. See these paintings and more masterpieces by Whistler in our current exhibition, now open at Tate Britain until 27 September 2026: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/whistler 00:00 - Intro to Whistler 00:49 - The Nocturnes 01:40 - Different brushes for each effect 02:55 - Weavism effect Subscribe for more stories from behind the scenes at Tate: http://goo.gl/X1ZnEl To license Tate films please email film.licensing@tate.org.uk