3. Some people thought Atlas looked like Mussolini
Atlas’ resemblance to the fascist Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, and more so the public’s reaction to it, have been largely exaggerated and turned into legend, though there were a few people who did note the resemblance. The New York Public Library did a deep dive into this topic and disproved the notion that New York’s Italian community protested the statue in the 1930s, as there are no reports of such demonstrations.
Instead, there are a handful of instances where individuals have pointed out the likeness. The most vocal opponent of the statue was James Montgomery Flagg, the creator of those “I Want YOU” army posters with Uncle Sam (whom Flagg modeled after himself). In an inflammatory 1943 New York Times article that outlined the findings of a self-appointed committee that determined the cultural value of New York City’s sculptures, Flagg said that Atlas’ stern face “looks too much as Mussolini thinks he looks.” Other committee members said that the statue “was nothing worthy whatsoever,” and was “bombastic and pretentious.” Atlas was one of many sculptures in the city the committee recommended be scrapped. Thankfully, the committee’s findings were not acted upon and Atlas still stands.