This piece exemplifies the lack of security and technology of this time period. The fact that a person was even able to just walk into the balcony where the president was sitting is fascinating because that would never happen today. “I supposed thirty minutes elapsed when, while Harry Hawk in the character of Asa Trenchard was alone on the stage, to the right a pistol shot was heard. I and, no doubt, most there for the moment thought it was in the play. In a moment a tall, dark man, neatly dressed in black, sprang lightly over the front of the box occupied by the President and party, holding to the front with his hands, lowered himself to the stage floor, some twelve feet below.” (1). Everyone in the theater saw the man who assassinated Lincoln, yet, because of a lack of security and technology, it took them twelve days to finally catch him.

One interesting thing to note about this piece is how the audience is reacting. Some seem to be sitting in silence and others seem to be standing up and cheering due to the assassination. This furthers the point of the complete divide in the nation at the time of this piece. The sheer chaos of this piece makes it seem like the chaos would ensue for most of the night. In Recollections of Lincoln’s Assassination by Seton Munroe, he talks about the utter chaos that happened after the assassination. “ The seats, aisles, galleries, and stage were filled with shouting, frenzied men and women, many running aimlessly over one another; a chaos of disorder beyond control had any visible authority attempted its exercise. The spot upon which the eyes of all would turn was the fatal upper stage box opposite to which I now stood. Access to it was guarded, but presently a man in the uniform of an army surgeon was assisted by numerous arms and shoulders to climb into the box to join the medical men already there.” (2). This shows how big of an impact this event had on society. This is most likely a main reason why the Lincoln Foundation Collection chose to put this piece in their article.

I believe that the image properly reinforces the quote above. The image shows the utter chaos that was breaking out after the assassination through the use of emotions throughout the picture, the artist was able to create a captivating scene full of chaos and excitement. Also, the way the artist used only black and white coloring is interesting because it can accurately describe that time period of post-Civil War. Either you were for slavery (anti-Abraham Lincoln) or you were against slavery (pro-Abraham Lincoln.)