New Obama Portrait Unveiled
Wednesday November 19, 2008
Shortly after the US Presidential race was called, portraitist Elizabeth Peyton added a new work to her exhibition Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton (on view at the New Museum October 8, 2008-January 11, 2009). Here we see not the President-elect, but Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha.
I like this vignette for several reasons. Michelle Obama is focused, but still in Mom mode. Nearly every parent in the world can relate to having his or her shoulder/hip/lap used for lounging purposes, can't we? The evening goes on and on, and even the most attentive young child cannot be expected to sit up straight and act engaged for 45-minutes to an hour. So, they lean and try not to wiggle, and we, the adults, maintain concentration for two (or more). The closeness and comfort evident in this painting--its humanness--makes it (and the Obama family, by association) easy for me to connect with.
Image credit:
Elizabeth Peyton (American, b. 1965)
Michelle and Sasha Obama Listening to Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention August 2008, 2008
Oil on MDF panel
14 1/4 x 11 1/4 in. (36.2 x 28.6 cm)
© 2008 Elizabeth Peyton
Comments
Shouldn’t a co-credit go to the Reuters photographer, Rick Wilking, who took the shot she based the painting on?
I know I’m often inspired to create works based on other people’s photos, and it’s sometimes difficult to find sources to credit, but a well-known shot like this (it took me all of two minutes on google – I’d seen the photo a couple of times before) deserves credit. After all, it was the photographer’s keen eyes which spotted that tender moment and framed the shot.
It IS a lovely image and I like her interpretation of it for the most part. Though in this version she has Michelle sitting back somewhat; in the original, she’s leaning forward more, showing interest in whatever is going on on-stage.
I’m touched by this beautiful painting. I don’t care where the “inspiration” came from or if it exactly displays a photo which might have been it’s inspiration. IT’S ART…not a photo.
I am inspired by the artists work.
What a beautiful and strong painting!
It is a copyright violation to copy a photo, period. (unless it is your own photo) You cannot copy a photo even if you credit the photographer. You could paint the photo only with permission of the copyright holder. However, in this circumstance, the photo was taken as a “work for hire” since Reuters apparently owns the copyright. Reuters charges a license fee to use a photo. If the photographer was freelancing, he would own the copyright unless his agreement with Reuters said differently.
The copyright law does not make provision for even copying a small percentage of another’s work. Since this painting is based on the work of another, it would violate the rights of the copyright owner and the “artist” could not (as she has) assert her own copyright over the painting. The gallery owner could also be party to copyright infringement in providing a venue for the painting.
Virtually all juried art shows and exhibitions prohibit work based on photos for obvious reasons. Some do however slip in. The artist would be perfectly free to base her painting on a photo she took personally.
But what do I know? I’m only an artist. I am not an attorney. For me, the only artist in this situation is Rick Wilking.