‘Patriotism is Blind’ captures the excitement surrounding the presidential election in 2008. The setting depicts a time in which many expressed ideas concerning the future of the country-people were socially active and filled with patriotism.
In Washington D.C., artist E. Marie Roper attended the presidential inauguration with her family in order to eyewitness historical change, as Senator Barack Obama would officially become the President of the United States. A simple photograph had been captured of the artist and her two sisters, waiting in anticipation of seeing the new President for the first time. Roper studied the analog version of the photograph at a later date, appreciating its social relevance and priceless demonstration of expressionism.
The artist embarked on a second journey, to recreate the aesthetic quality of the photograph through art on canvas. Roper’s decision to depict stick flags with a grey color scheme establishes a visual contrast in which the observer’s attention draws toward patriotism as the primary emphasis in the art. The day’s cold weather serves as an interactive function in the piece, juxtaposing the central character’s anticipation with the need for bundling with scarves, hoods and mittens. The artist illustrates the intricate details of the central figures and the large crowd in the distance through recreating the postures exhibited on the original photograph. Through placing emphasis on the character’s eyes, the artist creates visual windows in which observers can view the expression of patriotism.