French Presidential Portraits 1969-2017

Aesthetics of Power and Hope

Just recently, I spotted a term Giscardpunk, that describes the technological aesthetics of the years that introduced high speed trains TGV and proto-Internet network of Minitel. This of course means the years from 1974 to 1981, where the French Republique was presided by Valery Giscard d’Estaing. This era is even more interesting if we observe it as a time-slice in a longer historical sequence.

To understand the cultural and ideological tensors that shaped the politics of not only France, but all of Europe on the west side of the Iron curtain, it suffices to look at the official presidential photos. In France, those photos represent the State, serve as a symbol of power but also provide a picture of the zeitgeist and an attempt of the politics to influence the society:

Le portrait officiel du Président de la République

We should just skip over De Gaulle (above), taking it as a reference point, and start with Georges Pompidou, president from 1969 to 1974. Except for the color print, the world here still seems stuck in the times of Vienna congress, the presidents offers his body as a mannequin for an exhibition of metal jewellery. The backdrop of golden library harmonises well with the president who looks in the spiritual distance, far away.

Note that De Gaulle (196 cm, 6'5") needed three thick books to reach the presidial table with his fingers. The modernity of Pompidou’s photograph is in the blurred backdrop, everything else is same.

Just five years later, in 1974, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing comes with a bang: he looks at you (from the walls of school classes and post offices) directly in the eyes, wears a simple tie, and a small pin instead of multiple medals and decorations. The backdrop of the flag is almost abstract, - and yes, this is the only presidential portrait in landscape format.

Socialist François Mitterrand turns the wheel of history back. While he inherits the pin of his predecessor, he goes back to the golden library for the photo shooting. To shorten the long session he grabs one book from the bookshelf. You already guess which one?

Jacques Chirac, president from 1995 to 2007, goes out to the garden of Palais de l’Elysée for the shooting. Only the presidential pin remains same, the suit is almost casual (linen?) and the shirt is pale blue instead of pure white of his predecessors. Those were the years almost free of political turmoil, the obviously relaxed president looks like he will spent the rest of the afternoon making a picnic in the park.

Nicolas Sarkozy, first and so far the only French president with Hungarian background, goes back to golden library. Presidential pin is now stuck into hard wooden fabric of a tailor made suit that is so stiff that also serves him as a bullet-proof west. He is not reading a book - no time for that. For the first time - EU flag appears.

Françoise Hollande, president 2012-2017, is actually in the hurry (a few more steps to his roller), the presidential photo has almost paparazzi-quality, the building and two flags pixelated in the distance. Suit almost black. Pin remains. (is this a quadratic 1:1 format?)

Emmanuel Macron, born during the tenure of Giscard d'Estaing, likes symbols: Two Flags, open windows (fresh air), presidential table (to sigh the laws), a single open book (Jacques Rancière?), a clock (3:40 pm), more golden stuff on the table, two golden wedding rings - one for each hand. Nice tie.

And a pin.

All pictures: https://www.elysee.fr/