In honor of Mother’s Day weekend here’s the painting everyone knows as Whistler’s Mother by James McNeill Whistler. His title was ‘Arrangement in grey and black No. 1,’ which is thoroughly uninspiring.
But the US Postal Service picked up the painting for the 1934 stamp and included with it the tribute “In memory and in honor of the mothers of America.” The stamp that year cost 3 cents.
By far the finest critique that has ever been done of this painting can be found here:
It’s the most insightful 3 minutes of your art-appreciating life.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Comments