Reflections | Like Trump’s Time photo, one Chinese emperor’s portraits were often unflattering
The contradictory portraits of Zhu Yuanzhang, one of China’s most controversial rulers, reflect his complex historical image
Time magazine recently ran a favourable article on US President Donald Trump’s involvement in brokering the Gaza ceasefire, but Trump was furious at the accompanying cover image.
He complained that the photograph, taken from below with the sun behind him, which made his hair disappear, was unflattering. He said the cover photograph might be the “worst of all time”.
From monarchs to potentates, presidents to despots, all rulers know the power of the portrait. Their likeness, presented as paintings or photographs, is designed to project authority, legitimacy and the desired image of power or virtue to their people and posterity.
Hence, official portraits of “heads” of state and governments are seldom facsimiles of their subjects. Physical imperfections are smoothed over by a painter’s brush or digital tool to put a leader’s best face forward.
Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398), the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), remains one of China’s most controversial rulers, and the contradictory portraits of him reflect his complex historical image.
The existing portraits depicting him are in two completely different styles. One series presents him with a handsome face, dignified and benevolent. The other portrays him with a face like a misshapen fruit, sporting a jutting chin and speckled with moles.