Whistlers Mother: Artwork Analysis - Case Study Example

HERE YOUR HERE YOUR HERE HERE “Whistler’s Mother 1871 Artwork Analysis James McNeill Whistler, famous artist of the painting “Whistler’s Mother”, was an American citizen who profoundly changed the course of European art and made sweeping changes to contemporary art in 19th Century America. James Whistler believed in a philosophy of “art for art’s sake”, attempting to force the general public to recognize his artwork for its texture and composition rather than the specific meaning that the images in his paintings might elicit (Jssgallery.org, 1). During the 1870’s, many other American artists were dabbling with more colorful, impressionist varieties of work, in attempts to break away from the monochrome styling of earlier American history. Whistler, however, believed in the strong sense of tradition by painting “Whistler’s Mother” in the general black and white styling, creating considerable controversy during this time as to whether the painting was too bland for American or European art experts. Whistler was very fond of Japanese paintings and picture artistry, drawn to the two-dimensional aspects of Japanese styling. Additionally, James Whistler began to break away from Victorian artistry during this period in American history. Victorian values, especially in the upper-class society, were a time of decadent and gaudy representation of gilded gold and frank representation of wealth. Whistler believed in the beauty of artwork for the sake of its composition, utilizing color pallets which complemented one another to draw focus to the object being portrayed in his pictures. This was a significant break from the social norm in terms of what constituted quality artwork, making Whistler somewhat of an innovator of artistry in the 1870s. Whistler’s Mother is 56.8 inches tall and 63.94 inches tall, making it a very large representation of the subject. There are several stories which tell the tale of why Whistler chose to paint his own mother as the subject in the picture. First, it was said that an original appointment was unable to make the scheduled portrait session, so Whistler chose his mother. Also, it has been said that Whistler had originally intended to paint his mother in a standing position to illustrate her daily leisure activities, however the woman was too weak to stand for the long portrait session. Whatever the actual story behind the artwork, it is clear that “Whistler’s Mother” has managed to evoke sensations of a secure, nurturing mother all across America which can be felt in contemporary society as well. Today, “Whistler’s Mother” has become an icon of the American spirit, taking center-stage in various television programs, movies, and pop culture. It is common to find reproductions of the painting on various postage stamps, as the topic of humor in blockbuster motion pictures, and it is an easily-recognized portrait which suggests that it has become so engrained into modern culture that even children can recognize it for its devotion to tradition and maternal love. The piece appears to evoke a sense of security in those who view it, suggesting that “Whistler’s Mother” has become the embodiment of 19th Century values in regards to competent, strong, motherly leadership. “Whistler’s Mother” is an oil on canvas painting, found today in a museum in Paris. The painting only makes its way into the United States through various international art tours, making stops at the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Why, however, is “Whistler’s Mother”, one of the finest renditions of life in this time period, located in a European museum? Whistler and his mother eventually left America and moved to Britain, likely due to Whistler’s poor experiences during his time as a West Point military student. It might very well have been James Whistler’s desire to break away from the existing social norm and expand his own ingenuity and creativity which made him flee to the sanctuary of British social lifestyle. However, despite the fact that Whistler painted his mother in Britain, James Whistler was clearly attempting to illustrate the life of American women in this time period and create a connection with the American method of living and, perhaps, honor the maternal contribution to adulthood. British society did not, at first, accept his monochrome portraits due to their lack of perceived flair in terms of matching Victorian artwork and lack of color explosion. However, as cultures moved toward a more simplistic and less-garish presentation of wealth and society, it appears that “Whistler’s Mother” even managed to change cultural attitudes a half a world away from a growing 1800s America. Perhaps it is simplicity which makes “Whistler’s Mother” so compelling to people today and those in earlier America. One need only look at the portrait to witness its lack of spectacle, seeing a woman dressed in black sitting patiently and rather expressionless in her rocking chair amidst a very spartan background. This makes the painting so interesting due to the fact that Whistler’s mother was an affluent figurehead in 1800s society, meaning she had the wealth to support a more Victorian lifestyle. However, depicting her in what might be perceived as mourning clothes in a spartan environment really speaks of the Whistler family belief in moral superiority and the rejection of gaudy Victorian self-expression. There is no solid evidence which suggests why James Whistler was so strongly against rejecting the color pallets of impressionist painters (Foner and Garraty, 28). Whistler obviously believed in simplicity and worked to create a piece of artwork so that it can be enjoyed aesthetically based on the objects being represented in his works. Perhaps it was due to the British influence on his life, the center of Victorian beliefs and values, which drove Whistler to create paintings which made others in society think back on their historical roots and seek the comfort of simpler days rather than constantly driving toward issues of wealth and high society. The true intention of the project will likely never be known fully. Perhaps it is this sense of rejecting social norms which has allowed “Whistler’s Mother” to be utilized as a tool for human rights issues and politics. In the late 20th Century, “Whistler’s Mother” was at the forefront of the homosexual agenda. Gay and lesbian activists redeveloped the painting to illustrate Whistler’s mother holding a machine gun while she rocked sedately in her chair, holding a sign stating, “Sexist pig oppressors….beware!” (Streitmatter, 32). This might indicate that modern cultures view Whistler’s mother as an advocate for change, utilizing her majestic presence as a maternal leader as a means to create connection between human rights and the value of a child, regardless of their sexual orientation. Whatever the connection felt by the homosexual community, it is clear that “Whistler’s Mother” has become an iconic figure with the perceived power to elicit social change. Perhaps this is because the painting managed to change social values during the 1800s, thus people in contemporary society rely on the painting to assist in moving forward individual agendas on human rights. “Whistler’s Mother”, as well as other works by James Whistler, were signed using a stylized butterfly so as to create connection between the artist and his works. Symbolically, the butterfly represented the human soul by 1800s social standards (Berman, D.10), thus signing the works in this fashion let others who viewed the work to understand that the artist was a progressive citizen with a belief in spirituality and the ability of man to rise above his surroundings both social and economic. This is yet another unique trait of the artist which helps society understand the man behind the work and recognize that his intended messages, portrayed in his works, was Whistler’s unique expression of the human social condition. As previously identified, “Whistler’s Mother” has become such an iconic representation of traditional American values that references to the portrait can be found in popular culture and media. Variations on the theme of the painting have been found in motion pictures such as The Naked Gun 2 and ½, Mr. Bean, Arrested Development, and even Rocky and Bullwinkle. This tends to illustrate that the painting has staying power because of its connection to American culture and has become so culturally-significant that the work is modified or explained over and over again as a symbol of American fortitude and serves to create a connection between all citizens as a representation of heritage. In many respects, Whistler’s mother does not look that different from her predecessors during the time where America earned its independence from Britain. One need only look at a variety of traditional artwork from the revolutionary period in order to witness quite a bit of simplicity in terms of women’s dress and their expected job role as a homemaker and as a second-class citizen compared to their husbands. The revolutionary period was a time where the elite were superior and the poor simply worked to keep themselves fed and clothed. “Whistler’s Mother” likely served as a reminder to other elitists that simplicity and common dress could still make an affluent woman beautiful and strong. It might actually be the strength of character which Whistler’s mother appears to present during her patient stint in her chair which made Victorian elitists begin to find connection with their more common heritage. It may have also changed social beliefs about America during a time when British citizens were likely still harboring animosity toward their dismal loss against a much more inferior opponent: 18th Century America. Clearly, “Whistler’s Mother” is just as important for modern society as it was for America of yesteryear. The plain, monochrome detail of the portrait reminds society that beauty does not have to be overtly presented with gaudy representation. Instead, James Whistler helps society to recognize that strength of the female character does not necessarily come from elitism or strong Victorian values. Rather, Whistler appears to illustrate that the mother figure can be a focal part of an adult’s life and the mother should be revered for both her stoic personality and her focus on integrity through simplicity. “Whistler’s Mother”, by James McNeill Whistler, is the embodiment of everything America stands for. This is as much true today as it was in the 1800s during a time where America was just picking up the pieces of the devastating Civil War. Perhaps it is due to the fact that society was looking upon massive horrors due to social and technological progress during the Civil War which created the desire to reconnect with earlier-American values. Whatever the issue, “Whistler’s Mother” will surely stand the test of time. Works Cited Berman, Ann E. “Face to Face with Mama”. Wall Street Journal, New York, NY, 29 Apr 2004. Foner, Eric and John A. Garraty. The Reader’s Companion to American History. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1991. Jssgallery.org. “James Abbot McNeill Whistler’s Mother. Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter’s Mother”. Accessed 2 Dec 2008 from Streitmatter, Rodger. Voices of Revolution: The Dissident Press in America. New York, Columbia University Press, 2001. Appendix A: “Whistler’s Mother” (1871) Read More