Bernardo O’Higgins 2009

Kehinde Wiley made this powerful painting, titled "Bernardo O'Higgins," continuing his signature style of portraying contemporary Black subjects in the heroic poses traditionally reserved for European nobility. Wiley's work reframes historical narratives, challenging the exclusion of Black people from the art historical canon. The ornate, patterned background clashes with the sitter's casual attire, creating a visual tension that speaks to the complexities of identity. This tension underscores Wiley’s broader commentary on race, power, and representation. What does it mean to see this young man, likely encountered on the streets, cast in the mold of a historical figure? Consider the politics of visibility, and who gets remembered in paint and in history. Wiley invites us to contemplate the cultural assumptions embedded in portraiture and representation itself.