Lincoln And Mcclellan Analysis

Lincoln and McClellan by Mathew Brady

Mathew Brady (1823-1896), Daguerreotypist, established a portrait studio in 1844, called “The Daguerrean Miniature Gallery”, in New York City. Within a span of a decade, Brady had won many awards and photographed a myriad of celebrities of the day, such as Edgar Allan Poe. After opening a studio in Washington DC, Brady became interested in politics and photographed many prominent politicians including, Abraham Lincoln, Millard Filmore, and Zachary Taylor.
Often referred to as the father of photojournalism, Brady sought to document the Civil War once it began to take center-stage. Brady’s images of battlefield deaths shocked readers when they were first published in the New York Times in October 1862, stating, “Mr. Brady has done something to bring home to us the terrible reality and …show more content…
Shot from a slight distance at near midday, Lincoln and McClellan are seated just inside the tent, their bodies in full sunlight, both faces completely shaded. The detail in both subject’s faces however, still remains high. Retaining shadowed details on a high contrast images like this would still take some skill even with today’s equipment. Lincoln’s face is in full profile, an unmistakable view of him, while McClellan’s is about ¾ profile view. Both are clearly recognizable. The photographer’s line of sight is level with both subjects. This shows neither dominance nor a submissive point of view. Lincoln’s signature stovepipe hat rests directly behind the President’s right shoulder. Other details are clearly staged. The American flag drapes over a table behind Lincoln, and careful observation will lead your eye to the Confederate flag crumpled-up on the ground in the lower-left corner. Obviously, a symbolic slight to the losing side of this battle. I have seen many copies of this image, whether intentional or not, most crop out the Confederate

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