Picturing the Presidents

Not a guide to all of the presidential portraits in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C, this Smithsonian Channel documentary instead offers an informative illustrated meditation on particular portraits. The jewel of the collection is Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait of George Washington, which fixed in the American psyche the image of what a president should look like. Washington's austere majesty, while rather stiff and lifeless, nevertheless represents a clear break from the ruffled look of portraits of European royalty. By contrast, the suit and tie approach of modern presidential portraits leaves little room for creativity on the part of the artists. Much more colorful are paintings of Andrew Jackson, for instance, who realized the political value of his likeness as Old Hickory, hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Abe Lincoln also enjoyed sitting for portraits or having his picture taken, although photographer Mathew Brady initially had to help the Great Emancipator strike a suitably dignified pose. Some portraits remain controversial: Elaine de Kooning's impressionistic take on JFK hasn't been imitated since, while Lyndon Johnson snarled that Peter Hurd's portrait of him was “the ugliest thing I ever saw.” Also covered here are political cartoons and caricatures dating back to the early days of the republic. Picturing the Presidents features commentary from curators, visitors, painters, and historians, who collectively note that—for better or worse—portraits and cartoons of presidents affirm Americans' democratic belief that “individuals matter.” Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)