Lincoln 1874

This stereograph, "Lincoln," by John P. Soule, presents two nearly identical albumen prints mounted on a card. The composition is dominated by an elaborate arrangement of skeletonized leaves, forming a kind of ghostly frame. Within this delicate, decaying foliage, we find portraits of Abraham Lincoln. The visual structure suggests a symbolic layering. The skeletal leaves, stripped of their vitality, create a haunting contrast with the portraits of Lincoln. The image destabilizes established notions of portraiture, using organic, transient matter to frame a symbol of enduring leadership. Soule's use of natural decay may function as a memento mori, a post-structural commentary on power, or even a meditation on the passage of time. In considering the historical context, the artwork’s formal qualities are imbued with a sense of loss, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of life. Ultimately, it serves as a visual metaphor for the fragility of human existence.