Whistler reduces the scene to an almost abstract arrangement of whites and soft forms. The figure is presented without a clear narrative, emphasizing mood over meaning. This quiet simplicity reflects the Aesthetic Movement’s emphasis on harmony, color, and composition as ends in themselves.

Though the principle of Occam’s Razor was first formulated by medieval philosopher William of Ockham in the 14th century, it gained renewed attention during the Victorian era, when science and reason were on the rise. Its simplicity lies in the idea itself: the best explanation is usually the one with the fewest assumptions. Victorian thinkers embraced this elegant logic, using it to cut through superstition and support the growing trust in scientific thought.