The New Yorker Cover - Jan 26, 2009

This cover of The New Yorker, from the January 26, 2009 issue, features a portrait of the newly inaugurated 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. Created by artist Drew Friedman and titled "The First," the illustration depicts Obama in the style of an 18th-century painting, complete with a powdered wig and historical attire, reminiscent of the portraits of America's Founding Fathers.

Artistic Insight

Drew Friedman's "The First" is a powerful and historically resonant piece of commentary. By visually merging the nation's first African American president with the archetypal imagery of its founders, the artwork collapses time and challenges traditional perceptions of American leadership. The cover was published just six days after Obama's first inauguration, and it uses the visual language of the past—specifically the formal, stoic portrait style of artists like Gilbert Stuart—to comment on a pivotal moment of historical change. The title itself, "The First," simultaneously alludes to Obama's historic position and evokes the "first" presidents, thereby placing him within, and also marking a profound evolution of, the nation's foundational narrative. The piece masterfully captures the significance of the moment, suggesting a re-founding or a continuation of the American experiment in a new, more inclusive light.

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