President Lincoln and His Cabinet 1856 - 1866

Editor: Here we have Christian Schussele's "President Lincoln and His Cabinet," created sometime between 1856 and 1866, a print made from pencil drawings. It strikes me as a very staged, formal portrait of power – almost like a historical tableau vivant. What story do you think the artist is trying to tell? Curator: Oh, it’s more than a story, dear! It’s a conjuring. Look at how the light seems to emanate from within Lincoln, yet it catches the worry etched on his face, echoed in the posture of his cabinet. Schussele is grappling with the immense weight of leadership during a fracturing nation. The piece almost feels like a premonition, don't you think? Considering the date range, one can only imagine the drama that swirled around its creation! It's less about capturing a moment, and more about embalming an era with lead. What do you make of that vacant chair, though? Editor: It does add an eerie presence, almost like a ghost at the table. Maybe a missing advisor? So you’re saying the artist's mood adds a subtle emotional layer? I assumed the men must have had a meeting with a vacant chair and the artist merely copied their seating style. Curator: Absolutely! Art always imitates. Is the men sitting at the table mere accident of artistic impression? I want to hear what you imagine about Lincoln in the room. Editor: This print has given me new insights into 19th-century portraiture beyond a desire for simple visual representation. Now I am starting to realize that the choice in subject matters from portraits and still life reflects the socio-political environment! Curator: Exactly! I believe we've cracked something fundamental here today!