Lincoln Inauguration 1865

Alexander Gardner's "Lincoln Inauguration" (1865) captures the historic moment of Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration as president. The photograph, held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a powerful visual record of the event, showcasing the vast crowd gathered at the U.S. Capitol. Gardner's use of a wide-angle lens effectively portrays the scale of the event and the sea of faces looking on. The composition, with Lincoln on the platform and the crowd receding into the distance, highlights the power and authority of the president, while also emphasizing the support and anticipation of the nation.