 But this brings up an interesting question. Why does Washington seem so distant? Part of it was his personality. Those who knew him said that he just didn't talk much about himself. There is, I suspect, another reason for why we don't seem to know Washington. And that reason may be something as simple as the way he looks in the paintings. When you picture Washington in your head, what do you see? Well, most people will imagine the portrait of him on the dollar bill.