Archive - Reading the Pictures

A Portrait that Dares to Expose Musk’s Insanity

Mark Mahaney’s portrait captures the power and madness of Elon Musk, whose elevation from tech titan to democracy’s most dangerous private citizen…

2 hrs ago •

and

Cara Finnegan (she/her)

4:17

January 2025

Scenes from the Coronation of King Donald II: A Visual Guide to American Autocracy

From executive order theater to Elon’s salute, telling moments of Trump’s second inauguration (and yes, Justice Jackson’s eloquent necklace).

Jan 23 •

December 2024

A Visually Rhythmic Journey Through a Year’s Most Striking Book Covers

A curated tour of 2024’s most striking book covers reveals unexpected patterns in our collective consciousness - from wild abandonment to geometric…

Dec 30, 2024 •

Democracy's Darkroom: Tell It, Read It, Decode It, Survive

We need imagery and analysis that exposes how Trump—in all the rapid-fire, misdirecting, and gaslighting—remains able to manipulate the culture in such…

Dec 19, 2024 •

and

Cara Finnegan (she/her)

4:03

What's in a "Top 100 Photos of the Year" List?

TIME’s Top 100 Photos of 2024 captures the year’s defining crises, from war and climate disasters to political polarization. This analysis explores what…

Dec 10, 2024 •

November 2024

October 2024

Shutter Shock: The Photos that Expose Trump’s Mind in Disarray

The media, barring some exceptions, sanitizes Trump's incoherence. Quotes help, but nothing exposes his confusion and chaos like visible reactions.

Oct 13, 2024 •

and

Cara Finnegan (she/her)

3:45

Join Us for: "The Reading the Pictures Salon: Looking at Key Images from Campaign 2024" at ICP in New York

On October 22nd, join us live or online as we read key images from the presidential campaign. Enjoy vivid analysis from a stellar panel hosted by the…

Oct 10, 2024 •

September 2024

Springfield's Haitian Immigrants in the Light

Amid a storm of misrepresentation, authentic portraits challenge distortions and reveal a community's true image.

Sep 24, 2024 •

The 13 Most Telling Photographs of the Harris-Trump Presidential Debate

Harris outmaneuvered Trump using psychological tactics to expose his weaknesses. Powerful images capture her commanding presence and his discomfort…

Sep 13, 2024 •

The Picture Perfect Democratic Convention - Part 2

In part two of my visual round-up of the 2024 DNC, I look at the wooing of the middle class, the visibility of the Uncommitted delegates, the thrill of…

Sep 6, 2024 •

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts