Meet Joanna Hiffernan—model, muse, partner, and a hidden force behind some of the 19th century’s most iconic art. When American artist James McNeill Whistler painted “Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl,” it made him famous. But few asked: Who is she? The striking red-haired woman in the flowing white dress wasn’t just a subject—she was a collaborator. Hiffernan wasn’t content to sit quietly on the sidelines. She inspired Whistler’s work, helped him refine it, and even managed his finances. For nearly 20 years, she was at the center of his artistic life—but history nearly forgot her. Now, thanks to new discoveries from our curators, Joanna Hiffernan’s story is finally being told. She wasn’t just in the painting. She was part of the process. __ 🖼 James McNeill Whistler, “Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl,” 1861–1863, 1872, oil on canvas, Harris Whittemore Collection 📍 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 69 #art #history #woman #inspo #usa #painting #artist #whistler ...