What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

The story is of a tired President trying to put an end to a civil war. It’s depicted by his downward view with tired eyes, indicating lack of sleep and stress. That stress is associated with the South seceding and Lincoln trying to bring him back.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

The lighting, at least in the museum, differs depending on Lincoln’s view. In some be appears to have no eyes and in others it seems as he does but they’re tired. It serves to blurt the top of his face and leaving only an imposing figure to be seen. It demonstrates how people view Lincoln. Everyone assumes how he is a war hero and an amazing general, but in reality they forget how tired he is. He may be a President, but he is human.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

The museum very consciously made the choice to place Lincoln’s statue in a war-oriented area, with paintings from various time periods, and its lighting. All the other paintings were lit to allow you to see every part or it. For this statue, it’s lit specifically to make Lincoln seem less of a man and more of a figure. But due to the lighting, that idea can shift to make him from a figure to a tired man, as people often forget the struggle it had on him mentally and physically to lead in such a difficult time.

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