4.
16th of February, Saturday

Oh my God, the whole history of African American Portraiture is represented in these portraits! I like the phrase from resource “Hyperallergic” so much that I can't help but quote it: “Since the invention of the daguerreotype, in 1839, African Americans have used photography as a means of representing themselves against the backdrop of negative imagery, which often attempted to rob us of our humanity.” Since that time, African Americans began to come up with different ideas for photographs in order to show their status and education, thereby alienating people from racial stereotypes.

On the portraits Barack and Michelle Obama are sitting – thanks to this, we have the opportunity to consider their bodies, postures, style of clothes. No matter what I found in the first painting, my sight still goes back to the hands of the former president. They are in the centre, half-crossed, but do not create a closed pose. I have an association that he is sitting at an invisible table.

At the same time, I can not hold my attention for a long time in the hands of Michelle Obama, they "lead" me to her face – the eyes from the portrait as if looking at me and at the same time not concentrating on anything, she thinks about something of her own.

I looked at several other portraits that are in this gallery. Compared to them, the images of Mr and Mrs Obama look very unusual, but they still have solidity and grace.