# @drawingcenter on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Bawc0cTgHte
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/16046393-drawingcenter-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/fa769a3feb.jpg
- **Posted:** 2017-10-27T15:47:52.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The Drawing Center (@drawingcenter) — https://gondola.cc/drawingcenter

## Caption

Artists have a variety of methods to make their mark. Every Friday we will share a photograph of an #ArtistInAction. 〰
Edmonia Lewis (1844 - 1907), born from African-American and Chippewa (Ojibwa) descent, is widely regarded as the first multiracial sculptor to gain recognition in the exclusive 19th-century art world. She became prominent during the latter half of the century, and is often noted as the only woman of color active in the art scene at the time, but her acceptance was not easily attained. Lewis attended Oberlin College but did not graduate after accusations of theft and the poisoning of two white students, albeit with minimal evidence, were held against her. Determined to become a sculptor, Lewis moved to Rome where she developed a neoclassical style and thereafter stayed in Italy for most of her career. She explains, "I was practically driven to Rome in order to obtain the opportunities for art culture...The land of liberty had not room for a colored sculptor." Lewis’ works usually relate to her multiracial background, and mainly focus on themes of emancipation and abolition.  For example, two of her most well-known works, “The Arrow Maker” and “Forever Free,” depict a Native American father demonstrating to his daughter how to make an arrowhead, and the other depicts an African-American man and woman breaking out of the bonds of slavery. Lewis’ gender also informed her choice of subject; often sculpting busts of historically strong women like Cleopatra and Hagar. “It was hard work though, but with color and sex against me, I have achieved success. That is what I tell my people whenever I meet them, that they must not be discouraged, but work ahead until the world is bound to respect them for what they have accomplished.” #EdmoniaLewis
〰
Photograph by Henry Rocher, c. 1870

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## Tags

artistinaction, edmonialewis

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