For me, these two quite transcend their origins as carvings made "by pupils" 1937-38, which is what is noted in graphite on their reverse sides, along with the name of the teacher, which is a bit hard to read. I'll give that teacher great credit for leading their students in the exercise of relief carving silhouettes and painting/staining them black and white--in direct conversation with the hollow cut silhouette of a hundred years prior, and of course also in direct conversation with American history. To my eye the effect is both striking and haunting--feels to me the spirits of George and Abe are right here with us in them, hovering over things, and they look none too happy! With a great softness to the black edges of the silhouettes, and an eeriness to the absences for eyes--there is quite an intensity to them that is just right and I've become rather obsessed.
Each approx 6 7/8" x 6" x 3/4" Good condition, original eye hooks for hanging at top. General light surface wear a a bit of minor loss/roughness along the top edge of Lincoln, no real matter. There is, I am not sure why, a nail hammered into the bottom center of both, flattened on the back side.
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