Whistler’s Mother

Whistler's Mother, also known as Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1, is a famous painting by James McNeill Whistler that challenges the traditional notion of portraiture.

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Profession :

Artist's Muse

Birthday :

July 11, 1834

Star Sign :

Cancer

Death Date:

January 31, 1881

Age :

46

Birthplace :

Lowell, Massachusetts

Whistler’s Mother, alternatively titled Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1, is a renowned painting by American-born artist James McNeill Whistler, created in 1871. The artwork features Whistler’s mother, Anna McNeill Whistler, seated in a modest room. As a prominent figure in the Aesthetic movement, Whistler’s artistic focus was on harmony and color. His other significant works include Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket, Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl, and Portrait of the Artist’s Mother. Additionally, he produced various etchings and lithographs and authored the book, The Gentle Art of Making Enemies. Whistler was not only a skilled artist but also a musician, having studied at the Imperial Conservatory of Music in St. Petersburg, Russia. He believed in the close connection between music and art. Whistler’s Mother remains one of his most iconic and celebrated pieces.

An intriguing aspect of Whistler’s Mother is that the artist himself was irritated by people viewing the painting as a portrait. Instead, he preferred it to be perceived as an ‘Arrangement in Grey and Black.’