Abraham Lincoln, February 27, 1860 Photographed by Matthew B. Brady

We went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art last week specifically to catch Punk: Chaos to Couture before it closes in a few weeks. Luckily we stayed a bit longer and wandered into Photography and the American Civil War — without question the standout exhibition for me that day. The portraiture in this show is tremendously powerful. The images of generals and soldiers and newly freed slaves, whose destinies at the time of their sitting were most uncertain, are quite haunting and so beautiful. The portraits of patients in a war hospital, documenting their injuries and treatments for teaching purposes (a seriously enlightened idea), are completely fascinating. And those soulful eyes of Abraham Lincoln…

Photography and the American Civil War is on view through September 2, 2013

www.metmuseum.org