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What a picture. I'm sure Barack has one of those beaming grins on his face! (Original Post) George II Mar 2018 OP
Why should only the little girl get the attention? (nt) question everything Mar 2018 #1
he's probably wondering why it doesn't look like her Skittles Mar 2018 #2
Thank you. You took the words out of my mouth. n/t phylny Mar 2018 #5
It is completely missing her warmth Loubee Mar 2018 #9
yes.....the character in her face is not there Skittles Mar 2018 #10
Well, as first lady her job was to be our national hostess Hortensis Mar 2018 #17
Yes. Ohiogal Mar 2018 #26
ouch...I agree though. poboy2 Mar 2018 #11
Ive thought the exact same thing... SkyDaddy7 Mar 2018 #13
I feel the same way True Dough Mar 2018 #16
I was told by someone who saw it that it does look like her and she does come through Solomon Mar 2018 #18
I don't know what the concern is. They got a famous artist to do the portrait. LastLiberal in PalmSprings Mar 2018 #23
I guess people were afraid to say, er, what happened Skittles Mar 2018 #24
Love and respect sheshe2 Mar 2018 #3
Great image. Great people. Thank you. n/t Judi Lynn Mar 2018 #4
His body language tho.... Heartstrings Mar 2018 #6
I freaking LOVE that portrait. Cracklin Charlie Mar 2018 #7
Excellent. calimary Mar 2018 #8
Both of these portraits are very unconventional when comparing past 1st couple portraits. YOHABLO Mar 2018 #12
Is that Cha Mar 2018 #14
I think it's a painting too, or photo-shopped. George II Mar 2018 #20
Yeah, but nevertheless.. Cha Mar 2018 #21
Actually, now that I looked at it closer, it may be Barack for real, not a painting or photo shop... George II Mar 2018 #22
I can't see it. Must be the local server here DFW Mar 2018 #15
*Damn, thats a fine painting, but Im in love with the REAL Michelle.* VOX Mar 2018 #19
It could have been really different if they had Picasso do Michelle's portrait. LastLiberal in PalmSprings Mar 2018 #25
Thats Michelle? GWC58 Mar 2018 #27

Skittles

(152,966 posts)
10. yes.....the character in her face is not there
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 01:03 AM
Mar 2018

it's what I imagine Michelle would look like with a lot of botox and fillers

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
17. Well, as first lady her job was to be our national hostess
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 06:42 AM
Mar 2018

and our national most honored guest, and she was very good at it and her warm smiles real. But this remote woman who is not reaching out to make the viewer feel good is Michelle also. I wouldn't have chosen this almost flat style, somewhere between three and two dimensions, but i can certainly understand wanting her painting to depict something beyond what the millions of photographs of her in public usually do.

Mrs. Obama said she hoped "girls and girls of color" would “see an image of someone who looks like them hanging on the walls of this great American institution ... And I know the kind of impact that will have on their lives because I was one of those girls.”


I like this. If Obama'd chosen her artist, he'd be gray all over.

"I tried to negotiate less gray hair and Kehinde's artistic integrity would not allow (him) to do what I asked," Obama said. "I tried to negotiate smaller ears. Struck out on that as well."
 

poboy2

(2,078 posts)
11. ouch...I agree though.
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 01:08 AM
Mar 2018

I've seen some of her work and it is decent. Not so this. Clumsily rendered, imo.

SkyDaddy7

(6,045 posts)
13. Ive thought the exact same thing...
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 02:47 AM
Mar 2018

When I first saw it my very first impression was Michelle looked sad or troubled in way...Her typical “warmth” (like someone else mentioned) &/or upbeat positive attitude feels missing. IMHO.

...I don’t see the Michelle Obama who was dancing with 2yr old Parker Curry the other day! Seriously, I really do admire so much about Michelle & Barrack! They’re both actually good people & wonderful role models for every child to look up to! Especially, how they carried themselves as POTUS & First Lady for 8yrs despite having to endure the most viscous type of attacks any POTUS & First Lady have ever had to endure! …When those attacking them went low the Obama’s always went high!

True Dough

(17,096 posts)
16. I feel the same way
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 06:37 AM
Mar 2018

The painting is visually appealing but if I knew nothing about it and you asked me "Who's this?" my response would be, "I don't know."

Solomon

(12,305 posts)
18. I was told by someone who saw it that it does look like her and she does come through
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 07:27 AM
Mar 2018

if you see the actual painting. I'm going to see it for myself tomorrow.

 

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
12. Both of these portraits are very unconventional when comparing past 1st couple portraits.
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 01:58 AM
Mar 2018

I like the fact that the artist went in a different direction. The first lady's portrait doesn't really show her warmth. It's a nice portrait however, it just doesn't capture her essence.

George II

(67,782 posts)
22. Actually, now that I looked at it closer, it may be Barack for real, not a painting or photo shop...
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 01:09 PM
Mar 2018

Knowing how Obama's photographer has documented as much of his administration and public life as possible, I think that was taken when he was first visiting the portrait.

I'd still love to see that beaming smile that no doubt is on his face as he looks at Michelle in that painting.

DFW

(54,056 posts)
15. I can't see it. Must be the local server here
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 05:45 AM
Mar 2018

I'm in Spain at the moment, and the thing won't open.

VOX

(22,976 posts)
19. *Damn, thats a fine painting, but Im in love with the REAL Michelle.*
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 08:19 AM
Mar 2018

(Had to use asterisks in the subject line, as quotation marks and apostrophes disappear when you post from an iPhone.)

What a kind, decent and loving couple the Obamas are.

It’s a criminal shame that the usual right-wing, amped-up-in-mock-outrage jerks attacked the Obamas daily with a strong undercurrent of racism running through all the various unfounded criticisms and manufactured “crises.”

Imagine if the Obamas had the support of the entire country, where everyone really appreciated and took pride in the extraordinary couple they had in the White House, as was the case during the (all too brief) Kennedy years.

I know that’s a Frank Capra-esque scenario, and pretty far from where we are now *now*, which is utterly intolerable and cannot end quickly enough.

GWC58

(2,678 posts)
27. Thats Michelle?
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 10:31 PM
Mar 2018

Well sure, I guess? I’m not seeing it. Does not look like our last “real” First Lady.

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