“Whistler’s Mother: An American Icon Returns to Chicago”

"To me it is interesting as a picture of my mother; but what can or ought the public to care about the identity of the portrait?" James McNeill Whistler asked about his 1871 portrait, original entitled "Arrangement in Grey and Black." Appearing at the Art Institute for the first time in more than 60 years, Whistler's subtle but striking masterpiece anchors a new exhibition dedicated to the artist, featuring 25 of his works.