The Dimensions of Women’s Lives

The National Women’s History Project (NWHP) has chosen Women’s Art:Women’s Visions as the theme for March 2008 National Women’s History Month. In keeping with the theme of NWHP, I honor the multiple dimensions of women’s lives by presenting Edmonia Lewis (1843 or 1845-?).

Edmonia Lewis is the first Native American and African American sculptress. When she was an Oberlin college student she was brutally beaten by vigilantes after two students, with whom she boarded, accused her of poisoning them. Because of insufficient evidence she was exonerated. Lewis later moved to Boston where she became known as a ’sculptress’ and artist. Thereafter, she was advised to go to England, but Lewis decided to settle in Rome after visiting London, Paris and Florence. Lewis’s career in Rome was a good fit with other American women artists. She was last seen in Rome about 1911. Her date and place of death are unknown.