But is the slave kneeling? Or rising? The argument for the postures is the slave is removing his chains as Lincoln protects him. The argument against it is the slave is kneeling.It's a statue of the slave rising after he is freed from the chains of slavery by Lincoln. The original was fully paid for by emancipated slaves.
— AG (@AGHamilton29) December 30, 2020
Here was the Frederick Douglas speech at the dedication in 1876: https://t.co/y1QzCEDOFV https://t.co/Q95hesOEPB
Half-empty? Or half-full?
That's the problem with a statue as narrative, it's hard to tell a story without explanation using one. Ambiguity is likely to happen.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with art: meanings change over time. Nudes in Greek art had to become "goddesses" to be acceptable in European art. And then Bush's AG (already forgotten his name; he was dismal) draped the naked female form of "Justice" because he didn't want to hold press conferences next to a naked lady.
ReplyDeleteAnd so on and so on and so on.....
Not to mention tri-colored cats. John Ashcroft was a real nutcase.
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