The Statue of Liberty: America's Most Iconic — and Most Elusive — Work of Art
By
Jason Farago
Summary
A critical and reflective essay examining the Statue of Liberty as the most iconic American artwork — despite being a French creation. The piece explores the statue's dual existence as both a sublime monument and a mass-produced souvenir, its physical deterioration and need for repair, and the strange, often overlooked details of its design and symbolism. Critic Jason Farago argues that looking closely at Lady Liberty reveals a much stranger, more complex artifact than the familiar patriotic symbol most Americans think they know.
Source
Twitter / XThe Statue of Liberty: America's Most Iconic — and Most Elusive — Work of Artnytimes.comKey quotes
· 4 pulledWhat is the most iconic work of American art? A French sculpture, of course, assembled first in Paris, and then again in New York Harbor.
She needs repair sometimes. The patina is thick. But she's still standing.
Look again: She's much stranger than you think.
The Statue of Liberty is caught between the sublime and the souvenir.
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