Portrait of Robert Todd Lincoln c. 19th century

This is William B. Closson’s small portrait of Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, made using photogravure. Robert Todd Lincoln's life was deeply interwoven with the socio-political tensions of post-Civil War America. As the son of a president who emancipated enslaved people, his very existence was a statement, a symbol of a changing nation, yet his identity was also marked by personal tragedy and the weight of his father's legacy. Consider how this image, rendered through the relatively new technology of photogravure, captures Robert Todd Lincoln. Does it present him as a man burdened by history, or one forging his own path? The portrait invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity shaped by historical events, familial legacies, and personal experiences. It’s a quiet, reflective piece, asking us to consider the man within the shadow of a monumental legacy.