Symbols of Power in Presidential Portraits

 

Official presidential portraits are NOT simply about capturing their likeness!

Every detail of the paintings or photographs are carefully considered to craft a particular narrative about the president. It's kind of like when your English teacher would make you analyze every description in a poem or novel. Yes, the curtain may be blue because the author just likes the color, but oftentimes people do not include these details without a reason. 

This is especially so for paintings where the artist is in control of everything that does and does not go on the canvas. However, a seemingly insignificant object left in the back of a photograph still required the photographer to choose not to remove it. When creating media, every part of it requires choices on the part of the creators.

For presidential portraits, the painter or photographer is not the only one making the decisions. The presidents themselves have curated images that they want the public to see. Every president has a different approach to their role as the most powerful person in the country. 

Soooooooo... Let's break down portraits by a few of the most notable presidents in our country's history.

George Washington

Stuart, Gilbert. Lansdowne Portrait.1976.
Oil on Canvas.
National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. 

As the first U.S. President, Washington had the difficult task of establishing what a president should be like. Should the president wear extravagant robes and crowns, like European kings? Should he don a military uniform as the Commander-in-Chief? Instead, Washington chooses to dress like an ordinary citizen elected by the people. He wears a black velvet suit to show he is down to earth as an ordinary person. However, he is still someone with a lot of power. Black velvet fabric is a lot nicer than what most people could afford at the time, which demonstrates his elevated status as a national leader. 

I'm sure you've heard the saying "The pen is mightier than the sword." It means that words are more powerful than physical strength. It's a sentiment that resonated with Washington. In his portrait, he has a sword at his side to remind us of his role as a military leader during the American Revolution. However, he holds the sword in his non-dominant hand and holds it by the blade rather than the handle. His non-aggressive position demonstrates that he will not rule the country through military might. 

Washington's outstretched hand may seem like an odd position for his portrait, but the pose references ancient leaders and art. It's called the "Orator's Pose," which was famously used in a statue of Augustus Caesar (as shown below). This pose is often reserved for leaders. The left arm rests at the side with the hand raised and opened slightly, while the right arm is outstretched, bent at the elbow, and has its palm open with the fingers spread out. The selection of this pose both associates Washington with great leaders of the past and asserts that he will lead through words and speeches rather than military control.

Unknown artist. Augustus of Prima Porta. 1st century AD.
White Marble.
Vatican Museums, Vatican City.  

To further connect Washington and the New Republic to ancient societies, the background incorporates Greco-Roman iconography. The Ancient Greeks and Romans originated the concept of a Republic Democracy. With the rebirth of democracy also came a Neoclassical obsession. Many of the early nation's important governmental buildings borrowed visual elements from the classical period to associate the new country with strong, democratic civilizations of the past. Washington's portrait features Doric columns, which were often associated with strength and masculinity in the ancient world. Additionally, the leg of the table calls upon an ancient symbol of power and authority. 

The birth of the United States happened during a point in history when most European countries were still ruled by hereditary monarchies, so the democratic ideals came from these ancient sources. As a baby country poor and haggard from fighting a brutal war, the US chose to align itself with great civilizations from the past to establish authority.

Also in the background, there is a pen and ink, papers, and books, which emphasize the importance of written laws. After his leadership role during the Revolution, Americans looked toward him for guidance on how the country should run. While Washington was crucial in the formation of the new country, he knew that he would not be in charge forever. By expressing the importance of the written laws, Washington asserts that the nation will go on after he is no longer president. In the spirit of true democracy, Washington communicates that people should follow the laws of the land rather than the voice of one person.

The last detail I want to highlight in Washington's portrait is the sky beyond the curtains. A rainbow can be seen amidst dark clouds. The nation had been in turmoil for decades until the defeat of the British forces during the Revolution. Colonists were struggling with British control, and the outbreak of the war caused divisions among the colonists. Neighbors that supported the British fought with neighbors that supported the patriots. Conflict and violence became all-encompassing in the lives of colonists, so the resolution of the war brought peace to the nation for the first time in years. The rainbow in Washington's painting symbolizes the sense of hope and calm that came with the end of the revolution. 

Washington's portrait both reflects the state of the nation immediately following the revolution and prescribes an image of what the president should be like. This painting continues to be one of the most important pieces of art from the birth of the nation. 

When I visited DC a couple of years ago, I stood in front of the painting and mimicked the president's pose. My photograph, shown above, also gives you a sense of the scale of this work. I love that Washington's influence still remains even 250 years after he assumed and established the role.

Andrew Jackson

Earl, Ralph E.W. Andrew Jackson. c. 1817.
Oil on Canvas.
National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC.

We'll skip forward a little bit to Andrew Jackson, the 7th US President. He served as president from 1829 to 1837. He's one of the more controversial presidents (and personally my least favorite) due to his racist policies toward Native Americans. However, his controversies started before he even took office as the president. His contentious reputation influenced the ways he chose to be represented in portraiture. 

Jackson was a military general during the War of 1812, and he became a national hero for his victory at the Battle of New Orleans. He was also a military commander during the First Seminole War in Florida that began in 1817. Jackson chose to invade Spanish-held territories in Florida without proper congressional approval. The invasion led to the capture and execution of two British nationals working alongside the Seminoles. This led to conflict with Britain. Despite protests and debate among leaders in Washington, then-president James Madison did not punish Jackson.

Due to his military record and national acclaim as a general, many of Jackson's early portraits depict him in military garb (as seen in the portrait above). However, the controversies towards the end of his military career required a shift in his public image once he decided to run for president in 1824. 

Earl, Ralph E.W. Andrew Jackson. c. 1835.
Oil on Canvas. White House Collection.

During his electoral campaign, Jackson wanted to minimize his military controversy and chose instead to promote himself as a representative of the "Common Man." After 1824, his portraits primarily depicted him in civilian dress. Jackson framed himself as the quintessential Southern gentleman farmer, which was a distinctly American image that evoked the simplicity of the farming life. While Jackson aligned himself with the common man, his economic policies in office, such as decentralizing the national bank system and reforming the currency, ironically led to an economic downturn that increased the suffering of the common citizens. 

Due to his controversial public image, Jackson carefully considered how he would be portrayed in his official portraiture. While he cannot control public opinion, he can manipulate his reception by controlling the official images circulated. 

Abraham Lincoln

Healy, George Peter Alexander. Abraham Lincoln. 1869.
Oil on Canvas.
State Dining Room, White House, Washington D.C.

Lincoln is arguably one of the most notable presidents besides Washington, so of course I have to analyze one of his portraits. While photographic portraits of Lincoln exist, the painting above by Healy has more symbolic elements to discuss.

The most interesting aspect of the painting is Lincoln's pose. Healy paints him in a moment of contemplation: where he's alone, leaning forward in the chair, with his elbow on his knee and his head resting on his hand. It may bring to mind the famous sculpture of The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, although that sculpture came half a century later. But this is to say that this pose is often associated with the act of deep thinking. 

Healy, George P.A. The Peacemakers. 1868.
Oil on Canvas.
White House, Washington D.C.

Healy directly borrows the pose from an earlier painting he created featuring Lincoln with other military leaders. In The Peacemakers, Lincoln is shown in a strategy session with those in the Union's high command during the final days of the American Civil War. From left to right, Healy includes William T. Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant, Lincoln, and another admiral. Both paintings were completed after Lincoln's assassination in 1865. However, Lincoln did sit for preliminary sketches before his death. 

Healy created the second painting with Lincoln alone because it created a more striking image of the president. The contemplative pose and origin of the image characterize Lincoln as a great thinker and strategist during his presidency. The first painting shows him working in collaboration with other leaders, but the second painting prioritizes Lincoln as the primary leader of the Union. As the sitting president during the Civil War, Lincoln had many strategic conversations and objectives to juggle at the same time to lead to an end of the war and the reunion of the country. 

Where Washington and Jackson demonstrated their military prowess as generals during wars, Lincoln's military success during the Civil War is attributed to his mind and strategic thinking. 

Barack Obama

Wiley, Kehinde. President Barack Obama. 2018.
Oil on Canvas.
National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.

Alright, I know this is a huge leap in the timeline from the Civil War to the 21st Century, but I think highlighting the first and only black president following the president credited for ending slavery is fair. While this portrait may seem jarringly different from that of the previous presidents in terms of artistic style, official presidential portraits began accepting more artistic freedom and stylization during the 20th century. 

Kehinde Wiley's portraits place contemporary black and brown figures in the conventions of powerful historical figures, such as Napoleon or John D. Rockefeller. He blends historical influences with contemporary methods of representation. In Obama's portrait, the president himself is painted in the style of historical portraiture. He sits in a confident yet casual position staring directly out at the viewer to give the president a powerful presence. However, the lush botanical background diverts from the typical portrait background. 

The flowers chosen for the background have significance in Obama's personal and professional life. The chrysanthemums reference the official flower of Chicago, where he was a political leader and US Senator before his presidency. The jasmine represents Hawaii, where he spent most of his childhood. And the African blue lilies were chosen to stand in for his late Kenyan father.

The painting was meant to be something new and original to reflect Obama's singular place in history as the only Black US President. The portrait celebrates Obama's individual history and emphasizes his status as a powerful Black American. He's a distinctly modern president, and Wiley chooses to portray him as such.

Donald Trump

Government Publishing Office. Official Presidential Portrait of Donald Trump. 2017.  

The last president I'm choosing to discuss is our current standing president. All the other portraits I have analyzed were painted likenesses, but Trump's official photograph portraits are particularly interesting to compare in his first and second terms. 

In the portrait from his first term, we see Trump in a more traditional presidential portrait. He's posed in front of the American flag, with a flag pinned to the lapel of his sharp suit. As an outsider to the political realm, Trump's portrait emphasizes his patriotism and aligns him with the legacies of his presidential predecessors. 

He sports a large smile, which gives off a hopeful and excited mood. This reflects his optimism going into his first term. As an outsider to the political sphere, Trump's victory in the 2016 election was surprising and unprecedented. His portrait reflects his happiness as he takes office and begins to bring about his radical changes in order to "drain the swamp" and "make America great again."

Trump Vance Transition Team. Donald Trump. 2025.

Once we get to his official portrait for his second term, the mood dramatically shifts. Trump seeks to portray a tough and threatening image. While the background and clothing remain unchanged between the portraits, the pose and lighting are very different. Trump leans in closer to the camera and tilts his head downwards at the viewer. This places him in an elevated position where he's looking down at us and invading our space by standing close. Paired with the dramatic lighting, the president takes on a threatening presence. 

As he takes office the second time, he sends the message that he's not someone to mess with. He's emphasizing a more combative and tougher stance this time around. 

Fulton County Jail. Donald Trump's Mugshot. 2023.

The facial expression of the cocked eyebrow and lips pressed together in his second portrait directly mimics his mugshot. Similar to the copy of Lincoln from The Peacemakers, Trump reframes earlier imagery of himself to control the message it sends. The 2023 mugshot was taken after he was charged with trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in the state of Georgia. 

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump used his mugshot to bolster support and raise funds for his electoral pursuit. By adopting the same expression in his second official portrait, Trump reframes the moment of legal adversity into a symbol of resilience and strength. He takes on a defiant tone to send a message that he will not be defeated and will not go down without a fight. 

Just as each president has a distinct approach to the role, they also take different approaches to their portraiture. This isn't unique to presidents either. Every photo you choose to post on your social media has been selected to send certain messages to those you share it with. So think about that next time you scroll your Instagram feed or post a selfie.