Movement, Style, School or Type of Art:
Influenced by Realism (especially by Courbet), then in turn personally influenced the Pre-Raphaelites. Later partially influenced by Impressionism. Moved on to his own style, one which was a precursor of Abstract Expressionism.
Date and Place of Birth:
July 10, 1834, Lowell, Massachusetts

Life:
As one might guess - by reading that Whistler had no easily defined style, and had spent most of his life traveling abroad - his work was multi-faceted. His earlier pieces were etchings, thanks to skills he picked up working as a cartographer. He painted portraits in the style of Realism, and later turned out abstracted landscapes, which he called "nocturnes." Whistler then returned to etching (drypoint) and tried his hand at lithography and interior decoration.

Important Works:

Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl, 1861
Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1: Portrait of the Painter's Mother, 1871
Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge, 1872
Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket, 1875

Date and Place of Death:
July 17, 1903, London, England