The Honorable Larry Householder, Speaker of the House, Ohio State House, Columbus, Ohio 2017

Curator: Oh my. First impression? Competence, I suppose. Not exactly radiating… joy, is it? More like, "I know things and I handle things." Editor: Precisely the point, perhaps? What we’re looking at here is Daniel Greene's 2017 portrait of The Honorable Larry Householder, Speaker of the House in Ohio, rendered in oil. It’s part of a tradition—commemorating leadership with paint. Curator: The tradition of enshrining power. Is it just me, or does official portraiture always have this…airless quality? Like posing with history is a serious, serious business. All dark suits and serious gazes. Editor: Absolutely! There's an entire visual language at play. The formal attire signifies authority; the direct gaze attempts to project trustworthiness—though that’s debatable in this case given later events! The Ohio Statehouse backdrop is subtly referenced but never overt, rooting Householder firmly within a specific socio-political context. Curator: Oh, context. Right. The plot thickens. It makes you think, doesn't it? Are portraits really windows to the soul, or just really effective PR? Look at the smoothness of the skin, that slight… softening of any potentially harsh lines. He appears approachable. Like a 'man of the people', but history offers other narratives. Editor: Indeed, this painting functions as a political artifact as much as a work of art. It’s destined to hang in halls of power, contributing to a carefully constructed narrative. The artist’s technique reinforces the idealization of authority. Greene's brushwork is meticulous, striving for realism—but also smoothing away any imperfections that might disrupt the image of control. Curator: I think there's this weird tension inherent in portraiture of powerful figures: do you aim for some kind of 'truth', whatever that even means, or do you serve the narrative? Here the intense details of the face versus the softer lines of his suit really highlights a deliberate creation of image. Editor: That is what makes Greene an excellent portrait artist—or an effective propagandist—depending on your perspective. Curator: What does this portrait leave us to consider, then, now knowing of the scandal that stained Mr. Householder’s legacy? I feel like seeing this piece opens an unexpected doorway, prompting us to rethink art's relation with truth, image-making and public memory. Editor: An official portrait becomes more interesting, and revealing, as time passes, doesn't it? This one challenges us to look beyond the surface and question the stories that are being told, and *who* is doing the telling.