A new portrait exhibit at Goldman Sachs' global headquarters in New York City brings each of America's 47 presidencies to life. Artist Salvatore Catalano pairs a portrait of every president with a quote that captures the era or the individual.
The exhibit marks America's 250th anniversary, dividing its history into 47 presidencies served by 45 men. Catalano describes the project as "a labor of love," noting that "most Americans can't name the presidents, much less tell you what they look like."
Catalano, who has spent decades developing a distinctive style of color, shadow and light, says portraits are very important to him. "We look at a list of names, but there's no color there. No brilliance, no blood." He used quotes from each president to inspire the style of their portrait.
The artist selected quotes that capture key moments from each presidency. Examples include George Washington's farewell address warning against "impostures of pretended patriotism" and John Adams' letter to his daughter Abigail stating, "To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do."
A skeptic might argue that such an exhibit, displayed in a corporate lobby, could risk reducing complex presidential legacies to decorative art objects. Without broader historical context, viewers may interpret the president's words in ways that oversimplify their full records.