The Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, at the Capitol, Washington, March 4, 1861 1861

Curator: Here we see an anonymous rendering of Abraham Lincoln's inauguration in 1861, preserved at the Harvard Art Museums. What stands out to you initially? Editor: The sheer mass of people! It feels like a sea of tiny hats, all focused on this single point, this stage. Curator: Precisely. The composition emphasizes the grand scale of the event, and what I find poignant is how it captures a moment of both hope and uncertainty, given the looming Civil War. Editor: Yes, there's a tension in the formality of the Capitol building juxtaposed with the palpable energy of the crowd. It’s a historical record but also, somehow, a distillation of a feeling. Curator: It’s fascinating how a simple engraving can convey such complex emotions, isn't it? A window into a pivotal moment, filtered through an unknown artist's eye. Editor: Absolutely. A somber, yet hopeful, beginning.