Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) Unidentified century

Curator: Looking at this bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln, you feel the weight of history. Editor: And the weight of melancholy. Doesn't he just seem burdened by the fate of a nation? Curator: Indeed. Craraua, the artist, really captured Lincoln's weary expression, which became so iconic during the Civil War. The sculpture is a smaller piece, around 8 inches tall, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's that downturn of the mouth, the furrow in his brow. It speaks volumes about the toll leadership takes, especially during times of strife. Bronze, of course, solidifies that sense of permanence, of a figure etched in time. Curator: Busts like these often served as civic monuments in homes or public spaces, a constant reminder of Lincoln's ideals and sacrifices. Editor: Makes you wonder what Lincoln himself would have thought, being cast in bronze, forever bearing witness.