Société des Trois in the Nineteenth Century

<p>This book reframes the formative years of three significant artists: Henri Fantin-Latour, Alphonse Legros, and James McNeill Whistler. The trio’s coming together as the <i>Société des trois </i>occurred during the emergence of the artistic avant-garde—a movement toward individualism and self-expression. Though their oeuvres appear dissimilar, it is imperative that the three artists’ early work and letters be viewed in light of the <i>Société,</i> as it informed many of their decisions in both London and Paris. Each artist actively cultivated a translocal presence, creating artistic networks that transcended national borders. Thus, this book<i> </i>will serve as a comprehensive resource on the development, production, implications, and eventual end of the <i>Société.</i></p> <p>Introduction </p><p>1. The Importance of Unity: Parisian Students in the Early Second Empire </p><p>2. United: The Formation of the <i>Société </i></p><p>3. A Cross-Channel Union: Beyond Paris, Beyond Students </p><p>4. Unity in Action: 1863 and the <i>Salon des Refusés </i></p><p>5. Unity on Canvas: Pivotal Portraits of the <i>Société </i></p><p>6. The Union Undone: An Inevitable End </p><p>Epilogue</p>