Who was she? Whistler’s Mother

Portrait of an Extraordinary Life

by Daniel E. Sutherland; Georgia Toutziari

There are so many iconic portraits. Who has looked at the Mona Lisa without imagining the life of its subject? I think that the same can be said of the woman in Whistler’s most famous work, his mother.

Looking at the portrait can lead observers (it certainly was true of me!) to wonder who this woman was and what her relationship with her son looked like. To me, Whistler’s mother appears to be someone who seeks equanimity but may or may not have found it. What do you see?

This book allows one to stop guessing and to get to know Mrs. Whistler. She did so much more than sit (passively) for a portrait. Anna, who was born in the slave holding South, went on to live or travel to many places, including Brooklyn, New York and parts of Europe. Her life was a full and interesting one. Learn more about her in this biography.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.