This oil painting was not meant to highlight her except for the quality of the painting alone. James McNeill, the artist, was reportedly frustrated by the overwhelmingly sentimental public response.
Just goes to show you that a picture, (or oil painting in this case),
This can be worth much more than a thousand words.
Despite the artist's intentions, 'Whistler's Mother" has resonated with viewers for generations, embodying universal themes and eliciting emotional responses that often lean towards the spiritual interpretations of motherhood, devotion, and quiet strength.
This leads me to my story, Years ago, I met what would eventually become two of several nieces by marriage to Uncle Joe.
When she was a little girl around 6 years old, she and her sister would play in the living room of their blessed Mom and Daddy's home.
Raised by loving, nurturing parents, and the Godly instructions that go with "training up a child in the way he should go, and when he/she is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22: 6, seemed perfected in their innocence.
Their child-like faith was evident as I watched with joy and glee as these two sister's entertained all who were watching. They danced and played and mostly sang about Jesus their Savior.
Like "Whistler's Mother" both little girls were building upon their foundations set by their loving Christian parents, and you could tell the construction was valid and strong. Both their foundations were flawless and ready to construct the rest of their spiritual houses.
Time went on and the attributes depicted in the portraits by artist McNeill, became evident in both my "NOW" nieces.
Today, as I was visiting this family, my one niece was sitting in a chair with her feet up on a small footstool, similar to the one in this portrait.
With my spirit, I saw this young woman of God sitting there and told her I would be writing about what I saw.
This young lady is pregnant with her third child, and the attributes of motherhood shine in her countenance.
Like the real Whistler's mother, she embodies a quiet strength and resilience too. Anna McNeill Whistler, depicted in the painting, faced financial hardships and personal tragedies throughout her life. Her dignified and contemplative posture can be seen as representing the mother she truly was. A mother with peace.
My niece today was showing, in the Spirit of the Lord, many of these attributes too.
I marveled at what I saw in the Spirit.
No human being is perfect, including myself as I write this. I see what I see, and I felt compelled to write about it.
Though the artist employed a minimalist approach, focusing on tonal harmonies and a restricted color palette, which was a departure from traditional portraiture at the time of the painting in 1871, it was often told that Anna prayed during the time of the painting.
This memorable portrait of a mother looking quite prudish and rather disapproving with a pursed lips expression was really not what was going on in her heart of hearts.
She expressed more than resolute motherhood. Her life represented peace in the midst of her personal storms.
My nieces, all three, are their own personalities. The one I speak of in this writing is all about having three little girls and I can see her resolute attitude to raise all of them in the admonition of the Lord Jesus.
No person's life is perfect, and like me, I am still undone at times. I know where my strength comes from. It comes from Jesus. Watching that little girl and her sister back in the early 1990's is a memory I choose to keep close to my heart. A child's innocence never really leaves. It just gets older. Like wine, it ages with time, and I choose to see her and her sister thrive in their pursuits of joy and happiness.
Like Jairus in the Bible in Mark 5, I can see a little girl who is being raised to life again. Not that she is or has been spiritually dying, but I see a resurrection of sorts in her. I don't really know her as I only see this family once a year at best during a family reunion.
This reunion was birthed in part to her taking the reins to have one to remember and memorialize another niece who tragically died a few years ago.
I never want to think that a parent should ever outlive their children, but it does happen. For my family by marriage it is, and still remains, a blemish of pain in all of our hearts.
God uses all of us to help remember and honor the life of a young girl who died prematurely.
My niece and nieces are all beautiful in the eyes of Jesus Christ. LIfe has a way of bringing everything full circle. For me it happened many, many years ago. I cherish all sisters. The two I have been eluding to are precious in the sight of God Almighty.
I just hope and pray at 69 years old now, that I get to live and see the fruit of all of my in-laws. All of them are loved by Jesus. And loved by me.
Whistler's mother is just a story. It is a true painting worth more that anyone could imagine in regard to dollar value. It is priceless.
The image of "Whistler's Mother" has been used since the Victorian era as an icon for motherhood, affection for parents, and family values in general, especially in the United States.
The picture of my niece today, sitting there pregnant and happy, reminds me of the way life should be. Living. Not just in an oil painting. But in real life.
I honor her and all of my family, young and old. I am an old guy now.
That is a good thing. I have been preaching this precious Gospel for over 35 years now and I hope my prayers are answered soon for all of the family I dearly love.
To her, and to the rest of my wife's family I say, "Value is more than money." True value in the Lord Jesus is how HE sees us. I know that I know that today reminded me, not of a pregnant niece in a chair like the portrait in oil.
It reminded me of a little girl and her sister dancing in a living room with Jesus on their lips and in their hearts.
Keep dancing. Keep singing. I am painting with words from my heart a portrait that will last into eternity. I paint with words. I pray with words. God hears both. It is HIS nature. He is the ultimate artist. He never runs out of oil for the canvas. He is the masterpiece on the portrait of our hearts. He signed our portraits, individually. Not with a signature in ink. But with HIS Blood. Thank God He never runs out of that precious, ever-flowing, and life-giving flow. I'm "Whistling now."
Copyright © 2025 by Joe Wilkins
