We live in a time of political fragmentation and discord where cherished institutions seem under attack. America’s identity appears to be one of polarization, with a lack of common values to draw the country together. How does one define individual liberty during these times? What does the Statue of Liberty, which once inspired and beckoned individuals from around the world, mean to us on this celebratory Fourth of July?

It is an era of many questions and few answers. These snapshots of the statue from my collection are like shards of a mirror whereby the whole is elusive. They are abstractions which seem ghostly; a mirage thru which we are attempting and hoping to achieve some clearer vision of a brighter future for this nation. Photography can help elicit memories of better times, creating a nostalgia for what seems lost or missing and a hope for what will be. Patriotism isn’t an abstraction like these images. It is what this holiday is all about.  

Images from the Collection of Robert E. Jackson. Follow him on Instagram to see more.