Elena Mănescu-Failer

Elena painted faces for a living, she did portraits of doctors, teachers, even a few party officials. In 1978 she turned her brush on Romania’s leader and handed him the canvas, which he probably hung somewhere important. Her trick was simple: copy the stiff official photo, then soften the edges so the man looked almost human. Look up the 1978 “Portret Nicolae Ceaușescu” and you’ll see what I mean.