Michelle Obama Depicted As A Slave On The Cover Of A Spanish Magazine

First Lady Michelle Obama's face (pictured) is superimposed over an 1800 female slave painting by French artist Marie-Guilhelmine Benoist. Seated on a chair covered with the American Flag, right breast exposed, and wearing an Aunt Jemina headscarf, the image is part of a feature article examining Mrs. Obama’s popularity among the American public.

“…Behind every great man there is a great woman [which best] describes the Obama marriage. In the shadow of the U.S. President is a person whose popularity ratings exceed those of Barack’s own. This person is none other than his wife Michelle,” reads the roughly translated description for “Michelle Tataranieta De Esclava, Dueña De América” (Michelle, Granddaughter Of A Slave. Lady Of America).



According to Clutch Magazine, the cover is part of a series depicting famous people nude and also features Princess Diana, Abraham Lincoln, and even Michelle’s husband, Barack Obama. Defending her controversial image, French/English artist Karine Percheron-Daniels claims it gives the viewer a glimpse in to an “alternative unexpected reality” letting us “view famous individuals in a different way.”

An interesting defense. But with Europe’s history of racially questionable images and descriptions of Black women (Dutch Magazine Jackie referred to Rihanna as De Niggabitch,” for instance), many across the African Diaspora are sure to have strong opinions on Magazine Fuera de Serie’s cover choice.

This is the original slave painting by French artist Marie-Guilhelmine Benoist. You can clearly see the resemblance to picture of Michelle Obama depicted on the magazine cover.