Bill Clinton with Ken Starr and Monica Lewinsky 1999

Pat Oliphant’s drawing of Bill Clinton with Ken Starr and Monica Lewinsky is rendered in graphite or charcoal on paper, with loose, sketchy lines that capture the essence of caricature. The marks aren’t so much about precision, but more about immediate expression and capturing a likeness in a few strokes. Looking closely, you can see how Oliphant uses the side of the graphite to create shading, while also using sharper points for outlines, it's a real push-and-pull. Notice the density of the shading around Monica’s hair, how it contrasts with the bare paper of Clinton’s face. It reminds me of the work of Honoré Daumier, another artist known for political cartoons and satire. Like Daumier, Oliphant uses his medium to poke fun at the powerful and the absurd, reminding us that art can be both critical and comical, and that there's no one way to look at things.