Now Showing: Painting of Obama trampling the Constitution

posted at 11:32 am on February 4, 2012 by Howard Portnoy

Move over, Shepard Fairey. The iconic red, white, and blue poster titled HOPE—which became a fixture in college dorm rooms across the nation in 2008—is yesterday’s news. Say hello to The Forgotten Man, by artist Jon McNaughton.

The painting is far richer than Fairey’s graphic work and trades more in contrasts. In the foreground are two opposing main figures. On one side of the canvas is a man seated on a park bench, his head bowed, his eyes cast downward in despair. On the other is Barack Obama, standing tall, his arms folded, his expression stern but unwavering—his right foot planted firmly on the U.S. Constitution.

In the background under a darkening sky is the White House, its flag at half-staff, and in the middle ground are all 43 previous presidents, one of whom, James Madison, beseeches Obama to desist. Subtle the painting is not.

Artist McNaughton released a video in which he discusses the work and the conditions that prompted its creation:

For a long time I didn’t know if I wanted to paint this picture, because I worried that it might be too controversial. But as an American, I couldn’t be still; I knew I had to do something.

[…]

This man [on the bench] represents every man, woman, and child who is an American. Like you and me he hopes for a better life, to find the American dream of happiness and prosperity.

CBS Las Vegas reports that the painting has done well, then quotes the artist as acknowledging that his sales of copies have been in the thousands. Thousands. He has a long way to go to catch up to Fairey, who reportedly sold half a million HOPE posters.

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