Posted on 02/17/2018 6:52:01 AM PST by mairdie
The official portrait is part of an old tradition perfected by Renaissance painters more than 500 years ago. The artists were generally painting powerful old men, who tended to be a bit ugly. To make up for what lacked in the sitter's physical beauty, the artist would emphasize the internal. A great painting of a king or pope tells you something about the subject's inner thoughts, his psyche. The image is more about what's going on inside his head rather than the outer trappings of his position or status.
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The Obama portraits are kind of shocking - not only because the paintings are so cliched and amateurish, but because Barack and Michelle would choose artists primarily by virtue of their skin color and radical views instead of whether they could actually pull off an official portrait. With no budget limitations, you choose these two? These substandard paintings will hang in the National Gallery for all time. I assume that the Obamas wanted to prove a point. With the Obamas, everything comes down to race and retribution, and here was one last chance to rub someone's nose in something.
The Obama portraits are a sad reflection on how bad a choice someone can make when given the opportunity to do something great.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
“The part that bothers me about the Obama paintings is that they are made to stop you looking at anyone else’s art that’s displayed in the same room. They stand out like bright red on a cloudy day. Your eye CAN’T not go to them. You HAVE to look. And that’s infuriating because I want to forget they even existed, much less lived in our White House.”
That is exactly what they had in mind, I’m sure. Diminish every other piece in the room by sheer obnoxious disdain for it all. It’s vindictive and insulting by design.
On the contrary, it exemplifies the complete frauds and anti-American losers they really are. I like the odd “portraits” for that reason.
They were probably going for something that would be light and airy and not so grim and formal as some of the other presidents' portraits are.
They also wanted Black artists. They weren't very picky about anything else. I guess they got what they wanted.
I doubt Obama chose. Most things come through underlings investigating and presenting options. I would HOPE that the beheaded whites weren’t part of what was presented to him. The fact that the painter is famous enough to use a factory approach was probably appealing. The fact that he was black was essential. Since Obama has presented himself in traditional portraits, I’d guess that the shock effect was a big part of the appeal. The “I” President has guaranteed that he is, once again, the center of attention. And you’re quite right. He’d never choose anyone who could see who he really was.
Sure it’s art but, it is ugly, lacks depth and is very inappropriate for a presidential picture.
On the other hand, after Trump erases Barack’s agenda and miniscule accomplishments, it will be the only way he will be remembered.
I’m waiting for the dartboard version.
At least they don’t talk.
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