George Washington (1732-1799) c. 1852

Editor: Here we have Rembrandt Peale’s portrait of George Washington. It feels very stately, formal. What strikes you about it? Curator: Beyond the iconography of power, consider the complexities. Washington was both a revolutionary and an enslaver. How does this portrait grapple with that duality, or perhaps avoid it altogether? Editor: I hadn't thought about that. It’s a very idealized image, isn't it? Curator: Exactly. By focusing solely on the heroic, it silences other truths. What does this tell us about the power dynamics inherent in portraiture and historical narratives? Editor: That's a really powerful point. I’ll definitely look at these portraits differently now. Curator: It’s vital to consider these historical depictions as contested sites, prompting us to question whose stories are told and, crucially, whose are omitted.