This Week in Photography History
This iconic photograph of President Abraham Lincoln was taken on February 5, 1865, in the final year of the Civil War and only two months before his assassination. The original intent of this photo by Alexander Gardner was to serve as basis for a painted portrait, but the photo resulted more impressive than the portrait. Poet Walt Whitman described the president’s expressions as “a deep latent sadness,” with the toll of war evident.
Photo via the Library of Congress
