Art: Lady Liberty Looks West

Why does Lady Liberty look West in this patriotic image? In an effort to re-brand their image after World War I, the German-American bank in Buffalo took a new name, Liberty Bank, and built a neoclassical building in its honor. Two replicas of the New Colossus crowned the western and eastern roofs signifying Buffalo’s strategic position on the Great Lakes as well as nationally. Atop of the 5th tallest building Eastern Liberty faces the Atlantic cities and mimics her authentic mother in New York City while Western Liberty (pictured above) looks towards Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit and beyond.

Photograph by Robert Thuerck