Existing comment:
Jimmy Carter
1989
Bronze, Edition 7/10
Jimmy Carter (1924-) was considered a Washington outsider when he narrowly won victory in the 1976 general election. In the wake of Watergate and Vietnam, Carter wanted to fashion the presidential profile of a plainspoken, hard-working man who would tell the truth to the American people. Oliphant's earliest caricatures exaggerate Carter's toothy smile, which in filling his entire face, made it into more of a defensive shield than a sign of accessible warmth.
As Carter's presidency became besieged by recession and record inflation, as well as by the challenge of the Iran hostage crisis, Oliphant increasingly questioned Carter's humble manner in ever smaller renditions, suggesting his lack of authority and power. Oliphant's final word on Carter came in the form of a sculpture, dated 1989, eight years after his humiliating election loss to Ronald Reagan, at only seven inches tall, seated with his legs dangling, not standing tall on his pedestal. |