I’m George W. Bush and I Approved this Nude Self-Portrait

So someone hacked into George W. Bush’s e-mail account and instead of finding incriminating intel on 9/11 and the War on Terror, the hacker instead found that Dubya has gotten into painting. That’s like breaking into Fort Knox and finding donuts.

This painting in particular is telling. For one, it reminds me of this:

That’s mainly because Marge captured the image of Mr.Burns exiting the shower. Dubya chooses himself as his own subject, and it’s from an interesting angle. The perspective is somewhat behind his left shoulder him in the shower, with the focus instead being on his own facial reflection in the shaving mirror, to which he himself is gazing. It’s like he showing himself literally at his most vulnerable, while also showing that he is still vigilant. He is aware of you, the viewer, and unconcerned, even expecting. Imagine yourself, the viewer, as the assassin, or perhaps the lover. This is a powerful man, even in his years of leisure. He has lived through America’s darkest days as it’s sworn defender. He has anticipated an attack on his own person, and how could he not? He’s use to the braying catcalls of the media, the liberals, and the protestors. He’s a warrior, but his war has passed, and has been won, perhaps, by a rival successor. Once you reach a certain pinnacle, you expect consequences, but the hammer never falls. Still, after years, there’s that anticipation. To someone, you’re their Bin Laden. They would seek to catch you unaware. Notice how he’s in the shower, but standing aside from the water? This is a moment of literal reflection. Also not the almost childish squaring of the tiles of the shower, yet the faucets and mirror are represented adequately in their circular forms. There’s a stark, brilliant contrast there. His back looks both aged and lithe, muscular at the same time. Notice the work on his hair as well. He’s painted his scalp first, then added hair, so you can see where his hair is thinning. The man has skills.

This is actually a good painting, and he was probably never going to show this to anybody but his closest family and friends. In a sense, the hacker was helping him.

That this was the most “incriminating” thing to have been found is his e-mails is telling of the man as well. It shows a subdued lifestyle where he’s willing to challenge himself to try new things. It shows he’s willing to try things he may not be comfortable with, and explore the man he is.