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Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan
Usage Conditions Apply
Artist
Aaron Shikler, 18 Mar 1922 - 12 Nov 2015
Sitter
Ronald Wilson Reagan, 6 Feb 1911 - 5 Jun 2004
Date
1980
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 66 × 45.5cm (26 × 17 15/16")
Frame (Verified): 95.3 x 72.4 x 7cm (37 1/2 x 28 1/2 x 2 3/4")
Topic
Ronald Wilson Reagan: Male
Ronald Wilson Reagan: Literature\Writer
Ronald Wilson Reagan: Performing Arts\Performer\Actor
Ronald Wilson Reagan: Politics and Government\President of US
Ronald Wilson Reagan: Politics and Government\Governor\California
Ronald Wilson Reagan: Journalism and Media\Broadcast journalist\Sportscaster
Ronald Wilson Reagan: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Ronald Wilson Reagan: Congressional Gold Medal
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© Estate of Aaron Shikler, courtesy of Davis & Langdale Company, Inc.
Object number
NPG.84.TC140
Exhibition Label
Born Tampico, Illinois
This portrait of Ronald Reagan graced the cover of Time magazine’s 1980 “Man of the Year” issue. Reagan had claimed the White House in the recent November election. More important, however, the triumph of Reagan’s conservatism at the polls seemed to signal a marked change in the political climate of the United States. In his calls for reduced dependence on government, he promised something quite different from recent administrations— Republican and Democrat. As Time put it, Reagan was not only “Man of the Year,” he was “idea of the year.” For this likeness, Time enlisted the services of Aaron Shikler, who has long been considered one of the country’s leading traditional portraitists. Among the traits characterizing Shikler’s work is a sense of intimacy, which he achieves largely through sensitive lighting.
Nacido en Tampico, Illinois
Este retrato de Ronald Reagan figuró en la portada de la revista Time en su edición del “Hombre del Año” de 1980. Reagan acababa de ganar la Casa Blanca en noviembre de ese año. Pero lo más importante era que el triunfo de su visión conservadora parecía señalar un cambio significativo en el clima político de Estados Unidos. Su llamado a reducer la dependencia que tenía el pueblo del gobierno implicaba una promesa muy diferente a las de administraciones recientes, tanto republicanas como demócratas. Tal como lo expresó Time, Reagan no solo era el “Hombre del Año” sino también “la idea del año”. Para este retrato, Time contrató los servicios de Aaron Shikler, considerado por mucho tiempo como uno de los principales retratistas tradicionales del país. Una de las características de la obra de Shikler es la sensación de intimidad que logra en gran medida gracias a una cuidadosa iluminación.
Collection Description
In 1978, Time magazine donated approximately eight hundred works of original cover art to the National Portrait Gallery. The museum is dedicated to telling the stories of individuals who have shaped the United States, and the Time Collection—featuring prominent international figures and events—enriches our understanding of the United States in a global context.
En 1978, la revista Time donó a la National Portrait Gallery cerca de 800 obras de arte originales creadas para sus portadas. Nuestro museo se dedica a narrar la historia de figuras que han contribuido a forjar el desarrollo de Estados Unidos, y es así que la Colección Time, que incluye retratos de importantes personalidades internacionales, nos ayuda a comprender mejor a nuestra nación en un contexto global.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view