Mr. President
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Mr. President” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
A photographer who rarely used a camera, Robert Heinecken appropriated images from film, magazines, and television to satirize American popular culture, from standards of beauty to obsessions with sex, war, and food. In this series of images, he photographed a television set as President Ronald Reagan—who famously maintained a controlled and polished image in the press—held a news conference during the Iran-Contra affair. Taking snippets of Reagan’s remarks out of context and presenting them in a composite narrative, Heinecken revealed a new meaning that is at best ambiguous and at worst dangerously manipulative. By focusing on the television as a seductive medium that shapes political dialogue, Heinecken critiqued the unquestioned reception of messages and urged viewers to challenge the rhetorical implications inherent in everyday political discourse.
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1992.577.1-12
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — © the artist or rights holder
