The portrait gallery has 3 floors, and yesterday I did the second, encompassing portraits of the presidents of the U.S.A., war photography portraits of Krushev and the like, the Portrait Competition, and William H. Johnson's exhibit. It was, as expected, wonderful.
The presidential portraits were very interesting. Sometimes the choice of painter for the respective president was all too interesting. Nixon, for example, had his portrait painted by Norman Rockwell, master of the benignly American - which we all know that Nixon was most definately NOT. John F. Kennedy, a man who changed the face of the presidency - chose Elaine de Kooning - who subsequently heavily impacted the face of impressionist art.
The Portrait Competition was really interesting as well, and I'll include a couple of my favorites. It is strange, the mix of portraits and self portraits.. what we see when we look in the mirror, what others see when they look at us. It was beautiful, and grotesque, and touching, sometimes all at once.
William H. Johnson had 3 individual galleries dedicated to his works, which I stood and admired for at least an hour. Linear and highly stylized lino cuts and serigraphs made up the majority of the collection, mostly a mix of rural and incredibly urban scenes of black people. They are distinct and stunning, and definately worth a stop.
Overall, another wonderful day at the galleries. How will I ever leave D.C.?
The presidential portraits were very interesting. Sometimes the choice of painter for the respective president was all too interesting. Nixon, for example, had his portrait painted by Norman Rockwell, master of the benignly American - which we all know that Nixon was most definately NOT. John F. Kennedy, a man who changed the face of the presidency - chose Elaine de Kooning - who subsequently heavily impacted the face of impressionist art.
The Portrait Competition was really interesting as well, and I'll include a couple of my favorites. It is strange, the mix of portraits and self portraits.. what we see when we look in the mirror, what others see when they look at us. It was beautiful, and grotesque, and touching, sometimes all at once.
William H. Johnson had 3 individual galleries dedicated to his works, which I stood and admired for at least an hour. Linear and highly stylized lino cuts and serigraphs made up the majority of the collection, mostly a mix of rural and incredibly urban scenes of black people. They are distinct and stunning, and definately worth a stop.
Overall, another wonderful day at the galleries. How will I ever leave D.C.?
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