Gezicht op het Amerikaanse Burgeroorlogsmonument in Waltham, Massachusetts before 1879

Here we see a photographic print by Thomas R. Lewis, likely from the late 19th century, depicting the American Civil War monument in Waltham, Massachusetts. The sepia tone and the book's texture give it a feeling of distance, inviting reflection. The monument dominates the composition with its vertical thrust, a stark contrast to the horizontal landscape. Lewis uses this strong vertical to suggest not only the monument's physical presence, but also the values of strength and remembrance associated with it. The monument stands as a sign, a visual marker encoding complex historical narratives. The use of light and shadow articulates the monument’s architectural details. Lewis’s photograph does more than just document a monument, it invites us to contemplate how societies materialize memory and encode meaning into public spaces. The monument becomes a focal point for a dialogue on history, memory, and representation.