Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) c. 19th century

Curator: This is Isaiah West Taber's rendering of Abraham Lincoln, an engraving, part of our collection. Editor: He looks as if he is weighed down by the burden of the world, or perhaps just the weight of that stovepipe hat! Curator: It's a powerful image, isn't it? The way Taber uses line to create a sense of depth, it makes you wonder about the artisan's labor, replicating this image in such a deliberate way. Editor: Absolutely! It's like he's etched not just Lincoln's face, but also the collective anxieties of the era into the paper itself. It certainly makes you think of the hands that crafted this image. Curator: It does leave me pondering the spirit of the man, the artist's intention, and the silent dialogue between the two. Editor: Indeed! From material to meaning, a complex dance across time, really.