Abraham Lincoln en de afschaffing van de slavernij in Amerika 1862 1865

Editor: So, this bronze sculpture, "Abraham Lincoln en de afschaffing van de slavernij in Amerika 1862," made in 1865 by Hugues Bovy...it feels like more than just a portrait, more like a historical document. What’s the significance of producing it as a coin or medal? Curator: It’s fascinating how historical moments are often commemorated in this form. This wasn’t just about celebrating Lincoln as an individual, but embedding the Emancipation Proclamation into the cultural memory of both America and Europe. The sculptural quality lent gravitas and ensured reproducibility. Bovy was clearly aware of how this could circulate as an object, beyond its initial function as a tribute. Do you see any clues about where and why it was produced? Editor: Well, I see text, and what looks like a date relating to emancipation, so maybe to mark the end of the Civil War? Curator: Exactly! This was likely commissioned to shape public opinion, primarily celebrating Lincoln's role in ending slavery. Consider how Bovy, a Swiss artist, understood American politics and contributed to the international dialogue surrounding slavery and emancipation. It’s a piece designed to be distributed, prompting conversations and solidifying Lincoln's legacy in the years immediately following his assassination. Who benefits from having Lincoln cast as a hero in a medallion, do you think? Editor: Those aligned with Lincoln's ideals, and I suppose, maybe even as a call to European countries to address their own roles in colonial practices or histories of slavery. Curator: Precisely! Objects like this participated in constructing and circulating narratives of progress. And Bovy, knowingly or not, contributed to that symbolic effort. Food for thought, no? Editor: Definitely. I never really considered how even a small object like this could have so much power in shaping historical narratives.