Compositie van portretten van 18 Amerikaanse presidenten, van George Washington tot en met Ulysses S. Grant (1789-1877) c. 1869 - 1877

This composite photograph of eighteen American presidents, from George Washington to Ulysses S. Grant, presents a visual encoding of political power in the late 19th century. Produced anonymously during a period of intense national reflection following the Civil War, this image uses portraiture and patriotic symbols to construct an idea of American leadership. The oval framing of each president and their arrangement around a field of stars suggests unity and collective identity. We should consider the social conditions that gave rise to this image: a nation grappling with reconstruction, industrialization, and westward expansion. Such an image would have served to reinforce a particular vision of American history and political authority, even as other voices were contesting it. To fully understand this artwork, we might turn to archives of political ephemera, exploring how images of presidents were circulated and consumed. This would provide a deeper understanding of the social and institutional contexts that shaped its meaning.