*As you no doubt know by now it was yesterday (02-12-18) that the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. unveiled portraits of former first couple Barack and Michelle Obama.
To be blunt, neither painting is generating much excitement, but the Barack Obama portrait is drawing the most scorn, er, criticism for its awkward setting for former President.
As you can see, it shows President Obama sitting on a wooden chair against a backdrop of bushes. The chair and Mr. Obama’s legs appear to be disappearing into the bushes.
The painting’s look wasn’t lost on social media which immediately compared it to the popular Homer Simpson animated GIF that shows the cartoon character disappearing into a bush.
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Was this the inspiration for the painting?:
This may or may not have been the inspiration for @BarackObama‘s official portrait: pic.twitter.com/d9yJTYImm7
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 12, 2018
Some observers think Obama appeared to be stunned and taken aback when he helped unveil his portrait.
Well, whatever the Obamas thought about the paintings, they kept their thoughts to themselves and smiled graciously as the invited guests applauded politely.
But, as you already may have guessed, social media didn’t hold back.
“lmao these are awful,” tweeted one user.
Another user said it looked like the artists used a Paint-by-Number kit to create the portraits.
“Ugly disgusting pictures not presidential paint by the numbers.”
Obama’s new portrait looks awfully familiar… pic.twitter.com/S5wenGJTPq
— Colleen Wordock (@cwordock) February 12, 2018
— nick (@nick_pants) February 12, 2018
But it wasn’t all bad. The painting did get some love … kinda.
Wherever Obama is sitting in his portrait, it looks lovely and peaceful. I’d like to go there.
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) February 12, 2018
nice of him to honor his predecessors, the bushes https://t.co/A9XJOrDXCG
— Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) February 12, 2018
So what are your thoughts about the paintings?
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