Welcome to Art Appreciation With Bossy, a new feature here on I Am Bossy, where new feature probably means yeah this may be the last time you see it. In whatever case, come along as Bossy shares everything she knows about art, which should return you to Facebook in approximately thirty-three seconds.
Shall we begin?
This painting is called Whistler’s Mother which everybody knows, especially if that everybody is Bossy’s Unhusband who had to answer an email from Bossy asking What is this painting again? because Bossy can’t remember things about her own mother, let alone Whistler’s.
Anyway.
The first thing Bossy would like to point out about this painting is that Whistler’s Mother is very old. And here Bossy isn’t talking about the painting itself from 1871, she’s referring to Whistler’s mother. Eighty-two, Bossy is guessing — although what does Bossy know, because Anne Bancroft was only thirty-five when she played Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate.
Next Bossy wants you to notice the artist’s use of black in the painting. That’s because Whistler’s mother was wearing a black floor-length dress, which is convenient because it mirrors the black floor-length drapes from Crate & Barrel which weigh down the left side of the painting.
And speaking of painting, Bossy would like to point out the cross-hatching technique particularly evident in the Benjamin Moore’s Pistachio paint color on the walls — and this cross-hatching the artist achieved by cross-hatching.
Particularly interesting about Whistler’s Mother is the painting hanging on the wall behind Whistler’s mother, which Bossy likes more than Whistler’s Mother. Or Whistler’s mother for that matter. It looks to be a serene farm landscape. Or an industrial complex maybe.
And finally, the takeaway from this very famous piece of art: Don’t forget your foot stool when posing for your son the artist who you secretly wish was your son the doctor and that’s why you’re not smiling.
Who had fun?
Kait says
February 15, 2012 at 2:42 pmCuriosity killed the cat. Then again this is the safer Google age so I googled Whistler’s mothers age and found this site: http://www.sgallery.net/news/06_2006/26.php It tells you everything you never wanted to know about Whistler’s “Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 : Portrait of the Artist’s Mother”
Thanks! I learned something new today. 🙂
WebSavvyMom says
February 15, 2012 at 2:54 pm–>Is that why she had the handkerchief on her lap because her son wasn’t a doctor?
Z. Mulls says
February 15, 2012 at 3:01 pmDid you see this photo of the models for “American Gothic” standing next to the photo? The guy was the artist’s dentist:
http://cdn.twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/American-Gothic-with-its-models.jpg
(Waved at you as you jogged by my car as I turned into my street, but you were Oblivious de Haviland)
dexter says
February 15, 2012 at 3:02 pmEVER SEE THE PAINTING OF WHISTLERS KIDS? What an ugly family
Junebug says
February 15, 2012 at 3:07 pmThe painting reminds me of the mother from the Bates motel. Very sad indeed. She was probably able to wear this dress again in her coffin…
WasteOtime says
February 15, 2012 at 3:37 pmWhat a waste of time. I want the last 2 minutes of my life back. And what’s with those ANNOYING pop up ads? I guess everyone sells out eventually.
Car Bomb Mom says
February 15, 2012 at 4:43 pmHoly Mother of Whistler, I think this is my crazy neighbor who smells like hot pockets and sour milk.
Olivia says
February 15, 2012 at 5:06 pmOlivia thinks that anyone who would name their child “Whistler” has to be a somewhat strange person.
Or a celebrity.
And being named “Whistler” might skew a few brain cells as well.
Just a thought.
Kait says
February 15, 2012 at 7:01 pmYou do know Whistler was his last name right, not his first? Methinks perhaps Olivia needs to click the link and go exploring.
Cupcake Murphy says
February 15, 2012 at 8:46 pmSoon I’ll have jowls like her.
zidia says
February 16, 2012 at 10:45 amI’ve always wondered what his father looked like!
joeinvegas says
February 16, 2012 at 12:44 pmI did! Thank you!
Janet says
February 16, 2012 at 3:21 pmAnd that painting on the wall behind her? Whistler painted that. I mean her painted the original, which he then painted a picture of. With his mother. I think this is true…
Olivia says
February 16, 2012 at 6:52 pmSorry Kait – Olivia did not realise that this was a SERIOUS, REALISTIC post..
km says
February 17, 2012 at 10:45 amEverytime I see this picture now I think of Mr. Bean
rt says
February 24, 2012 at 9:15 pm#6 is a meanie bo-beanie