Thursday, February 12, 2009

Thinking of Lincoln: Parallel Lines





From the Lincoln exhibition at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History.

Mannie


p.s. Sorry for any confusion here (as noted in comment below) I was merely struck by the interesting symmetry of these two images, both taken in the Lincoln gallery of the Museum of American History. A parallel line of Lincoln protraits, contrasted with and equally parallel line comprised of the actual hoods worn by the Lincoln conspirators on the scaffold.

I'd never seen these hoods before and was unaware that they even still existed. I found this display both chilling and compelling.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I dont understand the caparison here

scouter573 said...

Not to be macbre, but why is this particular hood design better than a simple blindfold or a complete hood (e.g., sack-like)? That is, why the exposed mouth and chin?

Mannie Gentile said...

Scouter,

I think I read in the label text that the conspirators wore these hoods most of the time, which may include eating and drinking. That may account for the access to the mouth and chin.

Mannie

Kevin said...

Thoughtful contrast.

Kevin at Civil War Memory