First Ladies of the United States is an exhibition organized by the National Portrait Gallery featuring portraits of the First Ladies of the United States. Through the decades, a glimpse of the function of first lady: these women have influenced American history and culture since Martha Washington took office in 1789. Their role has often been downplayed, caricatured, as if they were only concerned with the domestic aspects of the White House. But each of them has left an indelible mark, political, intellectual, societal. Just think of icons like Hillary Clinton, Eleanor Roosvelt, Michelle Obama… so many figures who have changed the history of the United States.
View the online exhibition here.
Boris Chaliapin, “Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis (1929-1994)”, 1960-1961. (© National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution)
Douglas Chandor, “Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)”, 1949. (© National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution)
Amy Sherald, “Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (née en 1964)”, 2018. (© National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution)
Régine Mahaux-Van Wassenhove, “Melania Trump (née en 1970)”, 2017. (© National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution)
Aaron Shikler, “Nancy Reagan (1921-2016)”, 1984-1985. (© National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution)
“Martha Washington (1731-1802)”, vers 1800, artiste non identifié. (© National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution)
George Peter Alexander Healy, “Sarah Polk (1803-1891)”, 1846. (© National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution)
Ginny Stanford, “Hillary Rodham Clinton (née en 1947)”, 2006. (© National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Institution)
