Today Is the Birthday of Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), Sixteenth President of the United States

One of the nation's greatest statesmen, Lincoln, whose presidency was consumed by the Civil War, is best known for his Emancipation Proclamation and the eloquence of his Gettysburg Address.

William H. Johnson painted a number of notable figures in American history. In addition to Lincoln, Johnson painted other personalities who played important roles in the lives of African Americans as well. These paintings, which he called his "Fighters for Freedom" series, also included world leaders of the day. Learn more online about this fascinating artist in the Art and Life of William H. Johnson: A Guide for Teachers.

Source: Gwen Everett, Art and Life of William H. Johnson: A Guide for Teachers, ( Washington, D.C.: National Museum of American Art, 1991) at http://americanart.si.edu/education/guides/whj/main.html.

Pictured: William H. Johnson (1901–1970), Abraham Lincoln,about 1945, oil, 36 1/4 x 33 3/8 in., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation.