The 17th Century painting that unlocks this mysterious image

Following the unveiling of the official portrait of the next president of the United States, experts reveal how scouring the pages of art history can help decipher its meaning.

Whether your politics align with Donald Trump’s policies or not, there’s no denying that a series of recent photos of former and future U.S. presidents are the most visually appealing in U.S. political history It is difficult to do so, and it instantly imprints itself on the world. cultural awareness.

release of President Trump’s official portrait Ahead of today’s inauguration, the striking triptych of images that began last week with the late August 2023 distribution of his book has been completed. reservation photowas filmed after he was indicted in Georgia on charges of conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results. Almost a year later, the photo of his face was heard all over the world. Amazing photo of then-candidate Trump with blood stainsdefiantly raising his fist in the air after a would-be assassin’s bullet hits him in the right ear.

As fascinating as the first two photos are, the latest portrait taken by Trump’s chief photographer Daniel Torok and released by his transition team ahead of Trump’s retaking of the oath of office is: Perhaps the most extraordinary of them all. . There is absolutely no precedent for the sharp intensity of expression and hawkish gaze contained in this image in portraits of U.S. presidents. The Aggression of the Gaze requires scouring the pages of art history to find convincing parallels.

Trump may have intentionally struck a defiant pose in his Atlanta mugshot, but the photo was also staged in the chaotic moments following the July 2024 attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania. The dramatic images captured were also not under Trump’s control. It belonged to Torok. Carefully choreographed, every aspect of the official photo is calibrated for maximum impact, from the near-metallic crepuscular light illuminating Trump’s face from below to his severely asymmetrical squint. The photographer succeeded in doing so.

Traditionally, official photos of presidents, even those from eight years ago when Trump first held high office, are designed to convey openness and friendliness. They are gentle, smiling, and almost universally forgettable. They seem to be saying, “Better days are on the way.” This is not it. This ominous image makes a steely statement of impending purpose. Journalists have tried to translate the essence of the portrait into everyday language, using words like “scowl” and “stern,” but Trump’s facial expressions resist easy captions. Hmm, that’s strange.

To capture the president-elect’s unique, unwavering heartbeat, we really need new words that convey his unflinching will to win. “Trumpant” would also be fine. The closest echo in art history of this ferocious furrowed brow, closed eyes, yes, bullish glare is the eccentricity with the paintbrush of the 17th century Italian Baroque artist Salvator Rosa. It is a portrait, and its intense anthropomorphism is equally demanding on the discipline of philosophy (a fascinating canvas is housed in London’s National Gallery). The gaze of the images, both paintings and photographs, seems calculated to prevent the slightest whisper of dissent. Rosa’s subjects are depicted holding an intimidating sign that reads, “Remain silent unless speech is better than silence.”

Although ostensibly more warm-hearted, Torok’s photo of Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, released alongside Trump’s photo, has an unexpected edge to it. It also sparks interesting conversations with images from art history. Unlike Trump, Vance is technically smiling. However, his smile is more like a guarded, closed smile than a full smile. The lingering aloofness is further amplified by Vance’s powerfully folded arms. He’s very happy to see you, but he’s not ready to share it.

A lot can be inferred from Vance’s body language. After all, he’s not the first president-elect or vice president to link arms while posing for an official portrait. Both took the same stance joe biden and barack obama for their official portraits. Since the famous painting by Aaron Shikler in 1971, Contemplative President John F. Kennedyhe is depicted with his arms folded, deep in thought, which is the default posture for thoughtful executives.

But in Vance’s portraits, it’s not just the limbs that feel folded. Everything about him appears sealed and inaccessible. Even his lips appear to be crossed. His focus feels firmly fixed elsewhere outside the frame, reminiscent of the enigmatic portraits of pioneering French artist Paul Cézanne. Man with folded arms, 1899. Like Cézanne’s sitter, Vance’s mind, like his body, is wrapped up, tightly bound, and impossible to untie. Trump’s transition team announced the release of the official portrait in an email to the media, claiming the image read “Good luck,” punctuating the claim with a fire emoji. It remains to be seen how much of a glimpse of the impending portrait of America these new leaders are trying to paint.