Abraham Lincoln, Portrait, US President

by American Landscapes

Title

Abraham Lincoln, Portrait, US President

Artist

American Landscapes

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Photographer: Gardner, Alexander
Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-14258
Source: Civil war photographs, 1861-1865, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Alexander Gardner’s iconic portrait presents President Lincoln in a direct, steady gaze suited to his role in a nation at war. Captured on November 8, 1863, this head-and-shoulders photography was produced in Gardner’s Washington studio and later widely disseminated in both the Meserve Collection and public prints. Lincoln is shown facing forward, framed crisply against a plain background. The composition emphasizes his facial features and dignified bearing—strength and concern subtly interwoven in his expression.

While the photograph lacks dramatic flair or visual distortions, its importance lies in its clarity and immediacy. During the same period when the Gettysburg Address had recently reminded the nation of its higher ideals, this portrait offered Americans a steady, resolute image of their leader immersed in civil war’s challenges. Though Gardner later became known for his emotionally charged, "cracked-plate" Lincoln image in 1865, this 1863 portrait stands apart for its formal simplicity and broad recognition in period publications. It underscores Lincoln’s composed determination during one of the Civil War’s most defining seasons.

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August 15th, 2025

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