James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain

Whistler made his name in London, but he was born in Lowell, MA—you can’t have him England! His work is as lovely as he was difficult. This retrospective, the first in thirty years, ranges from small, well-observed etchings (Rembrandt was an early hero and a clear influence) to society portraits, when Whistler was at the height of his reputation. That didn’t last—he was a strong-willed character and feuded with backers, critics and peers. I love his Nocturnes, bodies of water at night, in thin, dreamy brushstrokes, that capture serene moments in the city right before they evaporate.