A portrait of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, painted by 28-year-old Franco-German artist Jérémie Queyras, has been unveiled at Berlin's Bode-Museum (a neo-baroque institution renowned for old master paintings and sculpture). The oil painting, which depicts Merkel in one of her trademark blue blazers, was the result of a years-long process that began when Queyras sent her a handwritten letter in 2022 and waited three years for a response. Notably, Merkel reportedly paid for the portrait herself rather than using public funds, ensuring she retains ownership — a precaution that would allow her to reclaim it from the chancellery, where it is due to hang after October, should the far right come to power. The unveiling comes amid a wave of nostalgia in Germany for Merkel's 16-year tenure, which ended in 2021.