Even in your commentary there’s political context. What makes him seem determined and terrifying? His shirtless striding and horse riding skills or his determined and terrifying acts against his own people and those in Ukraine. To say that a painting depicting Putin as a monstrous figure in the year 2023 is NOT political is just boring and somehow pedantic. Yes not all art is political all the time, but a painting of a zombified Putin set against an apocalyptic landscape released during a war he started is not political? Really?

Also, saying Putin is flattered here is clearly sarcasm. The man has puncture wounds in his chest. Does we really always need the /s?

I was trying to say that real life Putin looks gross and use something like litotes or hyperbole to ironically say that he looks good here. Do you honestly think any rational human would look at this art and go, “Dang! He looks great!”? It’s an insult. The man, like every other authoritarian, is obsessed with his appearance. It brings a modicum of joy to know that he would be even a little annoyed by comments about his looks.