You�ve probably seen them. Maybe you�ve wondered about them. First invented in 1979, The Wall Street Journal�s distinctive portrait heads, known as �hedcuts� or �dot-drawings� have attained the status of an American icon, readily identifiable with one of the country�s best-known business publications.
In the spring of 2002, The Wall Street Journal donated a group of hedcuts, representing some of the United States�s foremost business leaders of recent years, to the National Portrait Gallery. These portrait drawings, based on photographs, attest to The Journal�s interest in the �primacy of the individual in both political and social systems.� Dedicated to preserving American history by collecting portraits of women and men who have significantly influenced our culture, the National Portrait Gallery welcomes this gift, which helps to chronicle the history of business in our nation.
This exhibition explores the development, the technique, and the implications of these illustrations. It also explores the biographies of a number of individuals whose unique contributions to American business and culture the Journal has reported during the past quarter-century.