Abe Lincoln 1995

Charles Long’s sculpture "Abe Lincoln" presents a visually striking form in glossy cobalt blue. This sculpture, created by Long who was born in 1958, compels us to reconsider traditional notions of representation and identity. The title itself creates a tension. Rather than a literal depiction of the 16th U.S. President, Long offers an abstract, almost cartoonish form. What does it mean to invoke such a significant historical figure in this way? Lincoln, of course, was the president during the Civil War, a conflict rooted in the enslavement of African peoples. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Yet, his legacy is complicated, his racial views evolving and debated even today. Long’s choice to abstract Lincoln, rather than represent him, allows us to meditate on the nature of memory. The sculpture becomes a vessel, holding both our reverence and our critique. It stands as a testament to the ongoing project of understanding history.