Lincoln's Gettysburg Address 1942 - 1943

James Henry Daugherty’s “Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address” is an ink on paper work, but it feels like more than just a drawing; it's a whole world conjured from black and white. The cross-hatching gives everything a kind of nervous energy. It’s like the whole scene is vibrating with emotion, maybe from the sheer weight of the moment. Look at the way Daugherty uses light – those stark beams cutting through the darkness. There's a ton of drama there, right? The faces looking up at Lincoln have these exaggerated expressions, full of awe and grief. The texture is amazing. Like you could almost feel the rough wool of their coats, or the smooth marble of those gravestones in the background. It reminds me a little of Kathe Kollwitz, the way she uses stark lines to convey deep feeling. It's that kind of raw honesty that sticks with you. Art doesn't need to give you easy answers. Sometimes, it's just about wrestling with the big questions.