Benjamin Franklin 1873 - 1876

This portrait of Benjamin Franklin was painted by William P. Babcock, an American artist of the 19th century. Franklin is depicted in a moment of repose, his arms crossed, a newspaper resting beside him. The crossed arms—a seemingly simple gesture—echo through art history, signifying contemplation, authority, or even defiance. We see it in portraits of monarchs, philosophers, and revolutionaries across centuries. In ancient sculpture, the pose conveyed power and self-control, while in later Renaissance paintings it embodied a sense of intellectual depth. Think, for instance, of depictions of Roman emperors or Renaissance thinkers, where the crossed arms suggest a man of action, but also one of knowledge and introspection. The newspaper holds a power of its own. The printing press, once a marvel, democratized knowledge, and reshaped societies. The newspaper is a symbol of the modern era, where information spreads rapidly and the world becomes interconnected. This image serves as a mirror to ourselves. An image passed through history, to elicit an emotional response from the subconscious.