The walls are closing in on Donald Trump, who made history this week as the first US president, former or current, to face criminal charges. But it’s still too early to celebrate, because he could also get Houdini out of it and break free, or even worse: win the next presidential election.
Because cameras weren’t allowed in the New York courtroom where Trump was arraigned on April 4, few had the pleasure of witnessing this historic moment up close. One of those people was a veteran courtroom performer Jane Rosenbergwhose sketch of a despondent Trump has gone viral online and will soon adorn the cover of New Yorker.
The sketch shows Trump with his arms crossed, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg dismissively. Visible in the background is Judge Juan M. Merchan, the judge assigned to the case, and other security officers and clerks.
“Trump was staring at the district attorney as he read the indictment. I must have had that expression,” Rosenberg told me. in a telephone interview. “He looked pissed off; he was not happy to be there.
With over 40 years in the business, Rosenberg’s track record includes sketches of high profile criminals such as El Chapo, Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Bill Cosby and others. But this may be his most publicized concert to date.
“It’s the biggest pressure I’ve ever had in a posting,” she said. “The media attention was the most I’ve seen.”
The viral skit – one of two made by Rosenberg during the arraignment – quickly became a satirical subject online memes.
“I’m used to people making fun of my sketches on social media,” she said. “This time it was a combination of teasing, praise and memes.”
I asked Rosenberg to describe the experience of drawing the famous and grotesque ex-president. “Trump is really fun to draw,” she intoned. “He’s got tons of expressions on his face and this crazy hair that almost looks like a hat.”
“I’m not saying it’s a happy or pleasant face, but it has a unique look that’s fun to capture.”
Beyond media, Rosenberg’s work has also been featured in several exhibitions, including the 2017 Drawing Justice: The Art of Courtroom Illustration at the Library of Congress. Now, at 72, she has no intention of slowing down.
“I love drawing people,” she said.
Related
There’s room for everyone in the world of Barbie, from Flavor Flav to the cast of Succession.
As president of the Museum of Chinese in America, she supported the people of Chinatown and supported their displacement. She is not fit to run the American Women’s History Museum.
For the past five decades, activist and photographer Claudia Andujar has worked with the Yanomami of the Amazon to defend their indigenous rights.
There are no common movements among artists in Chicago’s CLI-Fi Librarywith the exception of environmental grief as expressed through artistic creation.
Patron of the arts Myriam Ullens was shot dead outside her home in Belgium by her stepson, Nicolas Ullens, who cited an ongoing dispute over the structure of the family’s inheritance.
The recipients are small and medium-sized nonprofit arts organizations still recovering from low levels of funding during the pandemic.
In a statement, the Florida Department of Education said the famous nude statue “has artistic and historical value” and indeed can be displayed in classrooms.
Hey, is it a little stormy outside, or is it Tuesday already?
