Land of the Free was painted in the early fall of 2005. The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most beautiful and dramatic monuments in the city, but it is difficult to construct a strong composition with it as the focal point because of where it stands. In this piece, Chase approached the composition "from the water” rather than from the land as in A Grateful Nation. The exquisite sunset and the warm glow of the memorial itself reflect in the dark water creating a sort of mirror image effect. And, in fact, the glow of the lighted memorial can be likened to the warm feelings so many Americans have for Lincoln himself.
