Life — September 6, 1917 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Reproducing Lincoln" - Page Analysis This page satirizes efforts to create statues and artistic representations of Abraham Lincoln. The main cartoon depicts a sculptor laboring chaotically over a Lincoln monument, with materials and tools scattered about—suggesting the difficulty and messiness of capturing Lincoln's likeness. The accompanying article discusses competing Lincoln statues by artists George Barnard and St. Gaudens, critiquing their respective approaches. It also references Charlie Chaplin's planned film portrayal of Lincoln, noting the irony that Chaplin (a famous comedian) would interpret this serious historical figure. The satire centers on how artists across mediums—sculpture, painting, cinema—struggle to authentically "reproduce" Lincoln, with varying degrees of success and appropriateness.