Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2777: President George W. Bush's Paintings of World Leaders - Putin, Berlosconi - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

A portion of George W. Bush's personal paintings have recently gone on exhibition.
Among other things, the former U.S. President rendered his artistic impression of several current and former World leaders. A Body Language critique of just two of these Heads of State is discussed here.

Bush's painting of Vladimir Putin shows the Russian President in a classic anger expression together with a component of contempt.

Note Putin's thinned and straight horizontal upper lip. This particular body language-facial expression is highly indicative of anger.

Vladimir's eyelids are partially closed - but in a different manner when compared with that of a sincere smile. In anger there is tension of the lower lids. During subtle to moderate anger the eyelids are partially closed (as President Bush painted) - however with moderate to severe anger the eyelids open up widely.

Mr. Putin's right nostril is painted flared with a proportionate amount of tension included on the right side of his "mustache area". This component of this nonverbal cluster indicates contempt.

Although President Bush may not have intended to paint former the Italian Prime Minister with such a telling nonverbal - many would call his expression here is particularly characteristic of Silvio's personality.

Mr. Berlosconi (the Former Italian Prime Minster) has a mild-moderate Central Forehead Contraction (CFC) in this painting coincident with a partial mouth smile (suppressed). His lower eyelids also have the necessary concave-up furrows coincident with a smile. This smile has components of sincerity - yet it is duplicitous. When observed in any given individual on an occasional basis - these components should make us think of arrogance, incredulity (disbelief) or contempt (although all three of these emotions have other expression variations as well). However when this expression is displayed chronically - we should think of narcissism and sociopathic related conditions.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2776: James Franco's Mea Culpa - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2306:  George W. Bush trapped in Room -  Body Language's Microexpression of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2379:  Bill Clinton's Speech at the  George W. Bush Presidential Library Opening  Body Language of Former and Current President

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2647: Vladimir Putin regarding Edward Snowden, What Does the Russian Leader Think?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2745: Vladimir Putin Deception regarding Crimea - Body Language

Negotiation Secret # 25:  Silvio Berlusconi and the Exaggerated Pout

Negotiation Secret # 97: Silvio Berlosconi and the False Tie Adjust



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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1525: Up for Auction, Up for Interpretation - Edvard Munch's "The Scream"

Edvard Munch's painting, "The Scream", goes on the action block in New York Next month. Sotheby's expects it to fetch more than $80 Million. The primary emotion being displayed here is that of surprise. There are also components of fear and empathy. It is interesting to note that a more careful translation to English is "Shriek". 

The combination of the highly characteristic widely opened, oval mouth with the eyelids also opened very widely - is classic body language display for the emotion of surprise. The "white and wide" eyes are also consistent with fear. Full palmar (palm of the hand) contact in this context signals empathy - although this would have more fully captured had Munch painted the subject's hands a bit more forward on the face - perhaps even with a partial mouth or eye cover. The eyes (right more so than the left) looking downward-and-to-the-right, adds to the deep emotional tone of this expression. If this were a photograph of a real person, the subject in the foreground would very likely be looking at the rapid unfolding of a tragedy.

See also:

Secret # 617: Ginger White and Herman Cain

Secret # 21: Surprise + Fear + Empathy

Secret # 269: I Just Remembered + Surprise

Updated 3 May 2012 - "The Scream" sold for $119,900,000 yesterday:



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