Former President Barack Obama kisses his wife former first lady Michelle Obama after they unveiled their official White House portraits during a ceremony for the unveiling in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Washington.
Former President Barack Obama kisses his wife former first lady Michelle Obama after they unveiled their official White House portraits during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.Andrew Harnik/AP
  • The portraits of the Obamas were unveiled on Wednesday.

  • Barack Obama has gray hair and is wearing a suit.

  • She is sitting on a couch from the Red Room in the portrait of the President.

Robert McCurdy painted President Barack Obama against a white background in order to establish a relationship with the viewer.

Barack Obama's official White House portrait with an arrow pointing to its white background
President Barack Obama is seen in an official White House portrait painted by Robert McCurdy.AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

McCurdy's paintings feature his subjects against white background, an aesthetic that stands out among more traditional presidential portraits.

We are not here to tell the story of the person that is sitting for them because they have plain white background. In an interview with the White House Historical Association, Marguerite said that they were here to create an encounter between the viewer and the sitter. The viewer's emotional and historical package will be different for each one.

There are small details in the painting such as thewrinkle in obama's suit

Barack Obama's White House portrait with an arrow pointing to wrinkles in his suit
Barack Obama's official White House portrait.White House Historical Association via Getty Images

Robert paints people in a way that makes them better or worse. At the White House ceremony, Obama said that he captured everywrinkle on your face and every crease in your shirt. He didn't want to hide my gray hair. I requested that my ears be made smaller. I was told not to wear a tan suit by the way.

If you look closely, you can see that the former president has gray hair.

Former president Barack Obama.White House Historical Association via Getty Images

While in office, presidents age quickly.

Sharon Sprung painted the first lady sitting down.

Michelle Obama is seen in an official White House portrait painted by Sharon Sprung.Andrew Harnik/AP

In an interview with the White House Historical Association, Sprung said that she doesn't need dignity. I decided to sit because she has a lot of dignity.

In the portrait, the woman is wearing a dress.

Michelle Obama's official White House portrait.White House Historical Association via Getty Images

The designer was put on the map when she enlisted him to design her first gown. She became one of her go to designers and created her first gown.

She sat for her portrait in the Blue Room of the White House, not the Red Room.

Michelle Obama's White House portrait painted by Sharon Sprung.White House Historical Association via Getty Images

The furniture was moved from the Red Room to the Blue Room due to the better light.

Sprung put light on the dress.

Former first lady Michelle Obama.White House Historical Association via Getty Images

Sprung said that every little moment in a painting changed something. The whole thing changed when I put a light on the dress.

The Obamas are looking directly at the viewer.

The official White House portraits of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama in the East Room of the White House.Andrew Harnik/AP

In a video released by the Obama Foundation, the president of the White House Historical Association said that the eyes of the portraits were very personal.

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