Abraham Lincoln c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have Otto J. Schneider’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln, etched sometime between 1875 and 1946. The detail achieved through the etching process is striking! What can you tell us about this artwork? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the labor embedded in this reproductive print. Consider the layers of artistic decisions: from the original photograph, to the engraver's interpretation, to the printing process itself. How does the mass production of Lincoln's image affect our understanding of his legacy and the values associated with him? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered! It moves beyond the surface representation. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It makes one think about how images of power are disseminated and consumed.