So I was doing my mid afternoon stroll over at everyone’s favorite cyberAuntie, Sandra Rose when I saw that she had a post up about Elizabeth Peyton’s painting of Michelle and Sasha Obama.
Sandra said that a concerned reader sent her an email saying that the painting was a play off of the famous photo of Coretta Scott King with Bernice King laying her head on her mother’s lap during MLK’s funeral.
Sandra went on to say:
The artwork’s similarities to the famous Coretta Scott King and Bernice King photo are not very complimentary. The painting’s hidden meaning should be obvious. Why is Michelle scowling? And let me not even begin on Sasha’s complexion, which is a few shades darker than she appears in real life. This is art and I am supposed to be open minded to it. Sandra Rose
I also saw a similar post over at Love B Scott where he asked whether the oil painting is racist. Some B Scott’s readers said YES or at least maybe:
It’s not racist per-se, but I would have to agree that this is more than a coincidence. Why would someone paint the new First Lady at a gathering, in the likeness of Mrs King at Dr Kings funeral!? That’s more than a coincidence. Love B Scott
Seriously people, Bernice King was not the first or last child to lay her head on her mother’s lap.
The painting is based on a photo, but not one of Corretta Scott King and Bernice. It is based on a photo of Michelle and Sasha Obama on the final night of the Democratic National Convention. She scowling the same way I was scowling after listening to about 15 hours of speeches from a bunch of politicians.
I don’t blame Sasha for being pooped out. I was at INVESCO Field and it was a taxing day for everyone. There is no “hidden meaning” she painted and oil painting based on a photograph. Bernice King was not the first or last child to lay her head on her mother’s lap.
Sometimes a painting is just a painting.
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6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Bellesouth
Some people can never just let art be art. I think the painting – and the photo – are beautiful.
Nov 7th, 2008
LeeJacobs
Really? But how many myriad photos of the two are out there to choose from? I would say any similarities drawn from the two photos would be coincidental, but a painting is never just a painting.
Nov 7th, 2008
Nichelle
Yes indeed, sometimes a painting IS just a painting! I used this painting as my Facebook profile picture and I got a lot of concerned emails asking the Mrs. King question. I spotted it in W magazine a few weeks ago and recognized it instantly from the night of the DNC speech. The King similarity had not even occurred to me so I’m glad the word is getting out to avoid any unnecessary controversy and conspiracy theories!
Nov 7th, 2008
Annie, bossy color
Are you kidding me? This is what Elizabeth Peyton DOES. She hyper-paints her famous and not famous subjects – exaggerates, makes them precious, makes them sexy, makes them fashion – whatever direction strikes her. And the similarities between this and the CSKing photograph? Come ON. The M. Obama Watch blogger is right on target.
Nov 7th, 2008
cherika
true… there were many other photos that could have been painted; however, this one reveals what i haven’t seen in any others. the “scowl” and the fatigue give us a mini-peak at the great sacrifice this family has made… coupled with the strength and support oozing from “Mama” Obama, we see a beautiful moment between mother and daughter that need not only be shared at a funeral… i’m curious… was the photo taken during Barack’s speech? If so, that makes the expression make so much more sense… it is intimate, urging, as though she were feeling/expressing the words along with her husband… feeling the glare of the lights and the pressure to remember and speak true…
LOVE IT… not it is not alluding to beautiful Coretta and Bernice, at least not in the sinister way that some are implying… if it were, it would be in a way that is celebrating King’s immortality and that of his dream
Nov 7th, 2008
Nitalia
I think that it’s cute. Good job and very creative! I hope we can stop talking about race so much. It’s well, alive, and ain’t going anywhere!
Nov 14th, 2008