The National Portrait Gallery’s Weak Curatorial Vision

Greetings from the Swamp! I always enjoy visiting. Excise the ruthless bastards, the useless bastards, the liars, reptiles, and Grooms of the Stool — every day is a race for best brown nose — and, yes, it’s a nice city. I’m working at the Archives of American Art on my Allan Stone biography, but the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery is nearly across the street. The NPG’s triennial, the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, is on view. It celebrates excellence and innovation in American portraiture. The Outwin started in 2006, and in a few short years it’s become much anticipated.