Snark and Sensitivity

When it comes to commissioned portraits, artists are generally meant to flatter their subjects. But in painting "Mr. and Mrs. Andrews," Thomas Gainsborough had other ideas.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, Thomas Gainsborough ca. roughly 1750. Via Wikimedia Commons.

When we view famous paintings or read great works of literature, it’s easy to be blinded by a creator’s “genius” and forget their humanity. But if the creation of art is the most human of instincts, then we must keep in mind that our favorite artists were, in fact, people—complete with all the emotions, triumphs, flaws, and sensitivities.

And, in the best cases, a sense of humor.

Thomas Gainsborough’s early masterpiece Mr. and Mrs. Andrews (1750) has fascinated viewers ever since it came out of hiding for an exhibition in 1927, and I would wager that this is because Gainsborough’s personal stamp of wittiness (or is it snark?) leaps from the canvas. Each time I revisit this painting, I’m struck by its unflattering portrayal of its subjects, unusual in the realm of portraiture.