obama white house portraits stir strong reactions online

[{"selector":"#anim-bc7644c4-6de6-446a-a44d-61fe96ad7685","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7e667b7-b151-4169-9b2c-695c80a0fe07","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a7cbed5-ccc3-4b93-83ad-5f59e9537dc0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 465.81200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-535688a2-8a11-4a73-8a02-6ed81bb127d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-419c879a-bd2e-4986-a785-65cdd8d63d38","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] obama white house portraits stir strong reactions online Credit: nypost.com

[{"selector":"#anim-c1b8aa63-2847-4364-8022-461a7b747ae7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9eafb834-723d-4293-b968-8b8a5fe27bf1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67f44a2a-58a2-48f3-913f-5a990cf89a74","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 235.16719%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d45efbbc-3029-496a-a558-0516264c843c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08ea0b22-74d6-422a-9270-dbbc9b2b92bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The official portraits of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were unveiled at the White House on Wednesday, and the event sparked online art criticism. ​ Credit: nypost.com

[{"selector":"#anim-d2467e77-4c9f-44ca-9dde-93166cc02884","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3401056-f853-4681-9f2b-54afe280fed6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-155a1f7f-bdaa-489e-9a04-7c51ebe4cdf3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 231.64025%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a53ce79c-3837-47e3-9793-8f45e2f43333","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78f5eac9-d282-4416-ac66-ee1d7f4e568d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Obamas made their first joint appearance at the White House since the 44th president departed office in 2017. Credit: edition.cnn.com

[{"selector":"#anim-3115bee1-5f6f-44b6-b204-234840287c77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-282f1de8-c914-49cc-8ccf-06d5f23eb78f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b1a4251-80c0-46d9-8ce9-cd86ec2ac4b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 310.54134%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fff5dd2-c0b8-40af-9867-22b9c86bda34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5142bcd5-90ff-4758-96b9-3ebbbc17642a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] as visitors of the East Room ceremony hosted by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Credit: washingtonpost.com

[{"selector":"#anim-c0eafcbc-8d4e-404b-abec-10b922a7f7cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a79e5b82-9abf-4429-b36b-4fb331ac79fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e087300c-cf3e-460e-b51b-93d4a4b363b2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 207.02756%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba7b5deb-00ab-42ad-91dc-be7366a28953","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-058a000d-6b08-426e-acad-9fe8400e1f93","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Robert McCurdy's photograph of the former president shows him standing with his hands in his pockets on a white background while wearing a black suit and grey tie. Credit: Twitter

[{"selector":"#anim-1fba82ab-ac56-4f1b-b9bb-035870ab9e9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb24e0b4-e2e2-459d-975d-1b270f558d51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8f8bbb3-f813-481c-ba31-9e926414fffd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 183.50174%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6e3152b-0d64-4df8-9a8c-0c79ef49bfd6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b753ade-7c42-4a9d-aa54-2cb9e66210b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Michelle Obama, dressed in a light blue outfit, was shown by artist Sharon Sprung lounging on a sofa in the Red Room of the White House. Credit: washingtonpost.com

[{"selector":"#anim-f576e796-aa4e-442f-875f-acff96a92a7f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e40aca0f-12f6-4336-8a40-ce3d4bbc956f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c41a11ad-8e64-48cd-83c1-916eb27832c5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 310.54134%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-226ae794-df82-49f3-bbfa-bef39cf8d3dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8a2a53a-1123-4054-ac2d-dd4cc496fb97","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The former first couple's photos served as the inspiration for the pictures. ​ Credit: Twitter

[{"selector":"#anim-60e03217-f255-4734-9303-b38bcd01b345","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff2215e0-b884-4789-91d6-2c51a09e9ba6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd155579-dde1-4b83-bedc-001f1ad1c74b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 230.68788%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59c3c43b-c0c8-4a33-85c9-8998d4855dcc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-438679cb-74ae-4b6e-b189-8bab4ecf04cb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The portrait of Barack Obama was perceived by some social media users as being a touch too accurate. Credit: Twitter

[{"selector":"#anim-3078a909-15fa-4df5-b304-3250dae3d17b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e8256f9-150b-4f77-9b2b-ab440d92cd1f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ec7417b-a322-47a3-a8cd-5cbd02171317","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 295.39296%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c442f98d-c83f-4e1b-af51-d66012635b40","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcdbbd05-e0b1-4a34-b1dd-f9e0691e7d36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] On Twitter, writer Kris Pangilinan said, "Not going to lie, I've zoomed in on President Obama's image about a dozen times to check whether it was a photo or a real painting." Credit: news.artnet.com

[{"selector":"#anim-d20c31ca-bc72-4127-aab0-71934f72a797","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-750d9011-c199-4c3e-b9a8-8c0abbb8a5d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-add4a0dc-cba4-4a48-94b9-cbb7baa7c027","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 465.81200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57d42366-f8f1-416b-81a2-9d88b935af49","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0d32b28-edaa-4a60-b1a8-632becd93558","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 496.29612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Another person criticised the image for being unoriginal. Credit: news.sky.com Learn more