Did This Photo Make Lincoln President? | The Bigger Picture with Vincent Brown | PBS

Can the spectacle of modern politics today be traced back to a photograph of Abraham Lincoln taken during the presidential election in 1860? Host Vincent Brown reveals the specific choices made by Lincoln and renowned portrait photographer Mathew Brady in hopes of casting the candidate as presidential in his iconic 1860 portrait.

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ABOUT THE SERIES:
Images can tell powerful stories. One iconic photograph can symbolize an entire era. But if we expand the frame and examine the moment in which it was taken, a very different story can emerge. In this series of documentary shorts, Harvard University historian Dr. Vincent Brown meets with curators, photographers and other experts to challenge common assumptions about iconic American images.

THE BIGGER PICTURE is a co-production of Timestamp Media LLC and The WNET Group, in association with Harvard University’s History Design Studio at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, and Vision Maker Media.

Major funding for THE BIGGER PICTURE was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding was provided by the Anderson Family Charitable Fund, the Tamara L. Harris Foundation, the William Talbott Hillman Foundation, the Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Additional funding for the digital production of THE BIGGER PICTURE was provided by Chasing the Dream – a public media initiative from The WNET Group, reporting on poverty, opportunity, and justice in America, and supported by The JPB Foundation, The Peter G. Peterson and Joan Ganz Cooney Fund and Sue and Edgar Wachenheim, III.

[andersonic]

PBS is just killing it with YouTube serieses. I can't wait for the next installment.

[nutriapeluda]

I'm here from 2c but I'm staying for the beautiful pictures presented with an interesting story.

[araujohistorian]

Thank you, Vincent Brown! Visual images are central to understanding the present and the past. These short episodes will be fantastic to be used as teaching tools as well. Looking forward to the next ones!

[NC-qcwd]

I have learned from Vincent Brown's PBS programs more than I've ever learned from photographic history at university.

[Qtsm]

Great job, Professor Vincent Brown! Thank you for helping me teach my students and, more importantly, my family.

[shingi]

As a photographer myself I find this new series just fascinating. Lokking forward to see more episodes!

[CAcationu]

Oh, I can’t wait for more of this! Thank you Vincent Brown.

[altogetherinteresting]

This is fascinating! So glad PBS Eons mentioned this new series.

[darinsingleton]

A little late to the show here; but I truly hope there will be many more to come.
A really great series. Thank you.

[MatthewDLDavidson]

What an incredible documentary! So much information in only 10 minutes!

[debbiejohnson]

I loved this episode! So, many people don't realize the need for intentionality with pictures. I say this with developing brochures, pamphlets, magazines, presentations etc. Having just the right imagery shapes the narrative. It explains what you are about and what you want people to buy in to. A photo helps someone to see it from your prospective. "A picture is worth a thousand words" is so right. I enjoy telling a story through pictures!!

[NyctoLumino]

Fate and Fabled sent me this way. Did not disappoint; I always love seeing how much of history is a simple choice or circumstance away from being different. Can't wait to see the next one!

[michaelp]

Fascinating short documentary, very informative and interesting. I look forward to watching more. Thanks to PBS EONS for sharing the link.

[westwelg]

Very enjoyable and informative. I love the moving image work on the still photographs. Really looking forward to the next installments.

[IfWeRanTheWorldXers]

PBS Origins sent me--and I'm loving it here already!!

[windmediaco]

This was so interesting! I saw this because of the post from two cents. Can’t wait for the next one!

[elizagrigg]

Thank you, Dr. Brown and PBS, for making history and this critically important topic so fun. I can’t wait to see the rest of these!

[TheOwl]

Thank you! Such interesting content. Here from PBS Eons

[sandra-jones]

Great job! Look forward to this series.

[judithmitchell]

Fascinating video. Thank you so much for sharing this. Blessings - Judith 🎭🎤