Abraham Lincoln c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have Otto Schneider’s “Abraham Lincoln,” currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It has such a melancholic quality. How do you interpret the starkness of the lines, and the gaze turned away? Curator: The linear precision and tonal gradations create a compelling study in contrasts. Consider how the etched lines define Lincoln's profile, almost starkly, against the softer, more diffused background. Editor: Yes, the severe lines on his face really stand out. What do you think that conveys? Curator: The emphasis on line, rather than color or shading, directs our focus to the structural elements of the face itself—the planes, the angles, and their relationship to one another. It compels us to deconstruct Lincoln's iconic image. Editor: That’s a very different way of seeing it than I was expecting, thank you! Curator: Indeed, analyzing the formal qualities can often reveal unexpected dimensions in even the most familiar of subjects.