Michelle Obama’s new portrait for the Smithsonian has been revealed and it’s, well, it’s … something:
Michelle Obama's official portrait is unveiled pic.twitter.com/d5pdUWTkE7
— David Mack (@davidmackau) February 12, 2018
That portrait is pretty much begging to be ripped apart on social media. And that’s pretty much what’s been happening. But CNN White House, reporter Kate Bennett, for one, thinks it’s practically perfect in every way:
Amy Sherald’s incredible portrait of @MichelleObama. Sherald uses greyscale to paint skin tone in order to take away “color,” so her subjects can be seen for their personality and presence. pic.twitter.com/mLiLZSlNEU
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) February 12, 2018
Hopefully Kate didn’t throw her back out while she was tying herself into knots to put this spin on the awful portrait:
It’s not supposed to “look like her” in the traditional sense of portraiture. These portraits break the mold of how we as the viewer consider the depiction of a person. This is why Sherald and Wiley were chosen.
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) February 12, 2018
Well, that’s certainly one way to look at it …
— Sister Delecto Toldjah ? (@sistertoldjah) February 12, 2018
— Cliff Booth (@mikeinparma) February 12, 2018
Anyone else buying Kate’s story?
My reaction was… pic.twitter.com/N7IaDP0STE
— DealMeIn (@DenverPetre) February 12, 2018
It looks like something a high schooler in art class would do. Come on. Stop making excuses for crappy portraits. They had the world of artists in their hands and these two were chosen? I am unimpressed.
— KrissaKray (@krissa_kray) February 12, 2018
I know students in high school that could do better.
— Jenny (@BlessedTNGal) February 12, 2018
Huh? Then what's the purpose of a portrait? @AshleyW838 @rhondamint @MTReserved @KStiffers @gigi_deplorable @RamBoPirate @DougFurdak @CrazyOtto78 @Ranger3079 @JETHOMASCUOUS
— DelVol (@del_vol) February 12, 2018
Not supposed to look like her? Huh? Is it a portrait or a caricature?#awful
— THERESA (@tcfolse) February 12, 2018
A caricature is supposed to be a free representation of you, a Portrait is supposed to be very representative of what you look like… this artist missed the mark by a wide margin. #nottoskilled
— [email protected] (@Cisco149ergmai1) February 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/MedakArt/status/963099261670801408
As an artist myself, I agree, but where a portrait does not "look like" a person it should, at the very least, evoke that person's spirit. This does not. That is why I think people are reacting so strongly. I do not feel anything resembling Michelle's spirit when I look at this.
— Jessica Mendes? (@SeptemberMay) February 12, 2018
"Her portrait is not supposed to look like her"? pic.twitter.com/eH1tBlMe0T
— Col. Parker II⭐⭐⭐ (@danjonesccg) February 12, 2018
And the gold medal for mental gymnastics goes to…you!
— ????? ?? (@CCCinSC) February 12, 2018
— User Not Found (@mb9981) February 12, 2018
— SHANIE BOY™ (@Shane_Rodenbeck) February 12, 2018
Yeah, no. Stop making excuses for poor skill in art.
— Spectre (@Spectre6_1) February 12, 2018
So what you’re saying is she should ask for refund?
— Dr. Kankokage (@kankokage) February 12, 2018
If we were Michelle Obama, that’s what we’d do.
Can't we ever just admit, "Hey the artist did a shitty job." And move on?
— Coach Matt (@stros_fan) February 12, 2018