Which American born artist is best known for a famous portrait of his mother that has become an iconic painting in art history?

Introduction / Context:
Art history includes several famous portraits that have become cultural icons. One such work is commonly referred to as Whistler's Mother, a painting whose formal title is Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1. The question asks which American born artist painted this celebrated portrait of his mother. Knowing the names of key artists and the works they are associated with is a frequent requirement in general knowledge exams, especially when the work has a widely recognised nickname.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question focuses on an American artist whose most famous portrait is that of his mother.
The options are Rembrandt, Whistler, Vincent van Gogh and Salvador Dali.
We assume that the question refers to the painting popularly known as Whistler's Mother, which has an older formal title but is universally linked to its painter's name.
We also assume that the test taker is expected to distinguish between European masters and American born artists.

Concept / Approach:
James McNeill Whistler was an American born artist who spent much of his career in Europe, especially in London. His painting Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1, popularly called Whistler's Mother, depicts his mother seated in side profile and has become a symbol of motherhood and domestic life. The other artists listed in the options are major figures, but they are not American born and are not primarily known for a portrait of their own mother. Therefore, the approach is to recognise Whistler as the only name that fits both the nationality clue and the subject of the iconic painting.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Whistler's Mother is an informal title widely used for a portrait of an elderly woman seated in profile, painted by James McNeill Whistler. Step 2: Note that Whistler was born in the United States but spent a significant part of his artistic career in Britain and France, making him an American born artist with strong European connections. Step 3: Recognise that Rembrandt was a Dutch painter of the seventeenth century and is famous for many portraits, including self portraits, but is not an American born artist. Step 4: Remember that Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post impressionist and Salvador Dali was a Spanish surrealist, neither of whom is primarily associated with a famous portrait of his mother in the way Whistler is. Step 5: Therefore, identify Whistler as the correct answer from the options provided.

Verification / Alternative check:
Art history references and museum catalogues list Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 as a major work by James McNeill Whistler, now housed in the Musee d Orsay in Paris. The painting is almost universally known to the public as Whistler's Mother. This nickname appears in textbooks, general knowledge books and many cultural references. As none of the other listed artists is linked to such a widely recognised portrait of his own mother, the identification of Whistler as the correct answer is well supported.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rembrandt, van Gogh and Dali are all great European artists but they do not meet both conditions in the question. Rembrandt and van Gogh are Dutch and Dali is Spanish, so none of them is American born. While they painted many portraits and imaginative works, none of them is popularly associated with a single iconic painting titled or nicknamed after his mother in the same way as Whistler. Selecting any of these alternatives would therefore misrepresent both the artist's nationality and his most famous work.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may ignore the American artist clue and focus solely on general fame, which might tempt them to choose van Gogh or Rembrandt because those names are very familiar. Others may not recall Whistler's full name and hesitate. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to remember a simple association: Whistler equals Whistler's Mother, one of the most recognisable portraits of a parent in Western art, painted by an American born artist working in Europe.

Final Answer:
The American born artist best known for the famous portrait of his mother is Whistler, that is, James McNeill Whistler.