Take A Bow! You Found The Curtains!
The curtains and the portico (the porch-like area with the columns) follow a European tradition of so-called “state” portraits, which includes all those paintings of royal rulers, bishops, admirals, or other public figures. These portraits often include a portico-like space with a wall, columns, a curtain, and an open sky behind the figure. Since George Washington was an especially important person in the United States, the artist wanted to make sure the portrait included these kinds of clues so that the viewer would immediately know that this man was considered powerful and important.