George

Periodically I pop out another portrait of a founding father — these complicated, compromised men fascinate me. Washington (whose birthday is a few weeks before my next EDO posting) presents so many contradictions. One of the best presidents the United States has ever had, a leader who set the tone for the shoulder angel of many presidents who came after. And yet he “owned” slaves, a dark, evil, unforgivable stain on his legacy forever. I remember as children they made a point to teach us that he released his slaves after he died — as if this was somehow supposed to predispose us towards forgiving him this terrible sin. But we shouldn’t, and won’t. So he’s just this swirling storm of great good and terrible evil — kind of like us now, I guess.

Painting comes unframed, 10 x 15 inches on board.