George Washington before the Battle of Trenton 1789 - 1794

John Trumbull painted this portrait of *George Washington before the Battle of Trenton* in the late 18th or early 19th century. Trumbull was an aide to Washington during the American Revolutionary War, which shaped his career as an artist documenting the events of the era. This painting presents Washington as a figure of authority, his stance confident and attire formal despite the impending battle. But consider the complexities of portraying a leader during a revolution fought partly on the principles of equality, while still reinforcing traditional hierarchies. The enslaved people who served Washington are absent from this picture, yet their labor enabled his status and participation in the war. How do we reconcile the image of a revolutionary leader with the social inequalities of his time? This portrait invites us to reflect on the narratives we construct around historical figures and the values they represent, prompting us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out.