Reflection Week 3: "Face-to-Face"

To me, the National Portrait Gallery was an art museum with an overarching theme. The Gallery displays portraits of distinguished and influential figures that helped shape American history and culture. I agree with Allison - it is no history museum.

And how is each Gallery portrait a representation of the self?
As we had discussed in class, a painting is premeditated. The artist attempts to encompass the sitter's personality and background into a painting, carefully weighing artistic measures and determining colors, brush strokes, styles, to produce an ideal representation. The portraits are laden with information about the individual, and by analyzing certain gestures, surroundings, clothing, colors, we can even determine the glory of Washington and intrepidity of Parks. (Without the previous knowledge, it is presumed.)

And in comparison, what's a Kodak snapshot? Potentially many bad, undesirable, representations of the self. One grim look, glare, bags under the eyes, an unphotogenic scowl. Light might be captured at the wrong angle and... hum. Is that what you really look like in the mirror?

Painted portraits are splendid, not only because they are mostly favorable in representation (subject to author, but hopefully), but also because they capture a moment in time. As a sentimental being, lover of rummaging through old boxes and attics, I can't say no to that. Of course I would commission a painting of myself. Just imagine the surprise, decades later, of finding, unlocking a safe... and your youth, inquisitive beginnings springing at you from the past.