James McNeill Whistler confronts his critics head-on in The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, combining sharp wit, aesthetic theory, and personal defense. He structures the book around his infamous libel case against critic John Ruskin, transforming it into a bold declaration of artistic independence and a caustic critique of the art establishment. Whistler does not plead for approval—he challenges it, mocking convention and defending his reputation with unapologetic elegance.
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