Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski
So the portraits, I'm not sure how I feel about the President's, but I think Michelle's a mistake. These things started as a way to preserve people's appearances for history. Of course that purpose went away with color photography.
Still, in a hundred years people will be walking through the First spouse* gallery looking at realistic painting after realistic painting. Then here is this pretty abstract representation. And of the most youthful attractive first lady since Jackie Kennedy. I'd have gone with a realistic look.
As to the President's, the lightness will certainly stand out as one walks down the line of paintings, but that fits his persona?
*By then we will have to have had a first gentleman, maybe even a gay couple?
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I think the whole point was to eschew tradition to accentuate the break from the link. I think they're both beautiful.
A tip: Do not ask any black people you know about this unless, out of the blue, they tell you they don't like those portraits. I know it's completely innocuous, but any criticism of the decision by the first black President to use two black artists to paint portraits that will sit in the fucking White House, will get you side-eye I don't think you're ready for.
TM
