Elaine and Lorraine McInnis 13 year old twins of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, for their question:

WHAT IS WHISTLER'S MOTHER?

An American artist named James Abott McNeill Whistler in 1872 painted a picture that became world famous. Called "Whistler's Mother'' by most people, the correct title is "Gray and Black: Portrait of the Artist's Mother.''

Whistler was greatly influenced by Japanese artists who used similar techniques to his in their woodcuts. In the famous Mother picture, flattened forms and unsymmetrical composition are the characteristics of Whistler's style.

The artist Whistler was an international celebrity during his lifetime. He loved publicity, was extremely clever and witty, but also very quarrelsome. In addition to his fine oil paintings, Whistler also produced many excellent etchings and lithographs.