Putin’s tacky gift to Trump reveals his dark sense of humour

For all his many faults, Vladimir Putin is not without a jet-black sense of humour. The Russian president has given Donald Trump a painting. Many might have expected this to be a traditional piece of Russian art, depicting some rural scene, or perhaps something more avant-garde, from the contemporary Moscow movement. But no; Putin has instead sent Trump a picture of the aftermath of his assassination attempt last July.

The portrait, by Russian artist Nikas Safronov, is not what most people would call tasteful or accomplished. It depicts the president (notably slimmer and younger-looking than in reality) holding up a clenched fist in a gesture of defiance. Trump stands in front of a vast American flag, behind which various iconic landmarks, most notably the Statue of Liberty, are depicted. For some reason, the US president is holding a baseball cap. The impression given is of someone not taking the commission wholly seriously; it might even be seen as deliberately insulting, either in its artistic shortcomings or in the inferences behind it.