Weary of the Truth (1940)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
Marsden Hartley's painting "Weary of the Truth" from 1940 features a somber, reflective portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, a figure whose face has been immortalized countless times in the annals of American art and history. Hartley's rendition presents Lincoln in profile, imbued with a palpable sense of weight and fatigue, possibly reflecting the burdens of leadership during the tumultuous years of the Civil War.Dressed in a dark coat and a top hat, Lincoln is set against a backdrop that features a delicate outline of the Capitol, suggesting his inseparable connection to the nation's governance and trials. The choice of colors—dominantly shades of gray and black—furthers the mood of somberness and perhaps hints at the personal and national sorrows that Lincoln shouldered.Hartley’s style emphasizes broad, sculptural strokes and simplified forms, a technique that conveys more about the essence and weight of Lincoln's character than detailed realism might. The painting invites viewers to ponder not only the historical figure of Lincoln but also the relentless demands of truth and leadership in times of crisis.
Delivery
Returns
Marsden Hartley (1877–1943) is a Maine native and a leading American Modernist painter, along with his contemporaries, Arthur Dove and Georgia O’Keeffe. He is well-known for employing geometric abstraction as well as bold colors and lines. His paintings depicted imagery of nature, landscapes, figures, and still-life. Sponsored by Alfred Stieglitz, Hartley went to Europe in 1912, spending most of his time in Germany, where he met Gertrude Stein, Wassily Kandinsky, and Franz Marc. After returning to America in 1930, he reconnected with the New England of his childhood and started to portray the landscapes of New England in his paintings.