You must have seen Michelle Obama’s portrait by now. And likely you have an opinion about it. I have heard chatter about our former first lady’s skin tone, her dress, and that the painting doesn’t look like her. Whatever you think, you need to know a bit more about the portrait before forming your final judgement. Why Doesn’t Michelle Obama Look Black? Amy Sherald, the artist who painted Michelle Obama, renders her subjects, the First Lady included, with a technique known as “grisaille.” You may associate the term with monochromatic wallpaper, but it is also a manner of painting in grey tones. Here is another example of Sherald’s work using the grisaille technique. For Ms. Sherald, the grisaille technique acts as a two-fold metaphor. First, the grey tones remove the question of race altogether. Michelle Obama can be seen as a woman, not specifically a black woman. I think one could view the portrait (simply by the manner of painting) as a reminder that while Michelle Obama might have been our first First Lady of color, she worked in her position for all citizens regardless of race. Second, the varying shades of grey are perhaps a subtle nod to the mixed racial backgrounds of many African-Americans which often goes unacknowledged. The gradation of tones makes a powerful statement about racial history. Artist, Amy Sherald clearly said a lot by what she chose not to do: paint Michelle Obama black. What’s With That Dress The dress Michelle Obama is wearing in […]
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