What you are looking at
An older woman in black sits in profile on a chair against a gray wall, hands folded in her lap, beside a curtain and a framed print.
Why it is famous
Its real title is Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1: Whistler wanted people to see it as an arrangement of tones, not a sentimental picture. The sitter was his mother, Anna McNeill Whistler. The French state bought it in 1891, and it became an American icon of motherhood.
How big is Whistler's Mother?
Whistler's Mother measures 144.3 × 163 cm (56.8 × 64.2 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 6 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It belongs to the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, though it travels for exhibitions from time to time.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in Paris.
Also at the Musée d'Orsay
Frequently asked questions
Who painted Whistler's Mother?
James McNeill Whistler painted Whistler's Mother in 1871.
Where is Whistler's Mother?
Whistler's Mother is in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.
How big is Whistler's Mother?
144.3 × 163 cm (56.8 × 64.2 in). Its surface is about 6 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is Whistler's Mother made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Wikidata Q687182; Wikipedia, "Whistler's Mother". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.