George Washington (Vaughan portrait) 1795

Editor: Here we have Gilbert Stuart’s "George Washington (Vaughan portrait)," created in 1795 using oil paint. The somber color palette really emphasizes the serious expression on Washington’s face. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Formally, I am struck by the contrast Stuart establishes. The figure is built from a clear juxtaposition between light and dark. Notice the way the artist uses value to model Washington’s face, bringing him forward from the flat background. The white of his powdered hair also calls attention to his head. Editor: The lighting really does create a focal point on his face. It's interesting how the background is so dark and undefined in contrast. Does that have any significance? Curator: One can argue that the indeterminate background focuses our attention on the sitter's psychological complexities. Also consider the geometric relations Stuart employs: the stability of the pyramidal composition is in dialogue with the sitter's asymmetrical features and demeanor, generating visual interest. Editor: So, it's the tension between the different visual elements that makes the painting so compelling? Curator: Precisely. The artist directs our eyes and constructs Washington in ways that elevate him above a common subject. By giving so much visual weight to the head and truncating the body, this portrait demands contemplation by the viewer. Editor: I see it now; the way the shapes and values interact does shape how we perceive the subject. Thanks! Curator: Yes, I was pleased to be able to lend some observations about the formal mechanisms that organize and produce meaning.