RE: One can just guess why Mr. Obama picked Kehinde Wiley to paint his portrait
The Obama's portrait surely stands out. Must look funny accompanied by traditional portraits of other presidents.
As of the guy on the horse, surely my country was multicultural back then, but a dark-skinned Hussar is something new to me 😜
That "Officer Of The Hussars" painting reminded me of what I remembered as a depiction of king John III Sobieski.
I think I had in mind the picture above, although it depicts king's son - Sebastian Sobieski, the Grand Standard Bearer of the Polish Crown.
Doesn't look much like the Wiley's painting (except for panther leather on both), but depiction of king John from 1686...
...and especially contemporary one I've just stumbled upon (https://www.touchofart.eu/Marek-Kubski/mku62-Jan-III-Sobieski-pod-Wiedniem/)
...do. I gotta say sabre on Wiley's look much better and more Hussar-like than the sword above.
What's the message? We wuz kangs or something? THAT'S A CULTURAL APPROPRIATION AND I AM DEEPLY OFFENDED!!!
Just joking, although I find the resemblance quite interesting.