Abraham Lincoln 1860 - 1917

Here, we have a bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln by Leonard Wells Volk. Volk took a life mask of Lincoln, and plaster casts of his hands to create this portrait. Notice how the dark material gives the sculpture a somber quality, emphasizing the weight of responsibility Lincoln carried during the Civil War. The choice of bronze speaks to the strength and resilience associated with Lincoln's character. The casting process, involving the creation of a mold and the pouring of molten metal, highlights the translation of form from the pliable plaster into a more permanent medium. Each mark on the surface is a trace of the artist’s hand, yet the bronze immortalizes this image for posterity. The sculpture is a potent reminder of the ways in which materials and processes can imbue a work with deeper social meaning, challenging our conventional understanding of artistic representation.