George Washington

About this work

You see George Washington in a dark coat, his face lit from the side like a candle is nearby. The background is plain brown, so all the focus is on his expression. This painting was probably made by someone who never met Washington—maybe a local artist copying a famous portrait. The face looks a little stiff, like the painter wasn’t totally sure how to do wrinkles or shadows. That makes it feel more like a memory than a real person. If you want to see how other artists painted Washington, look up *america*.