Struggle Of American Women Artists

Women have always had to struggle against the stereotypical society dominated by men, in order to show their true mettle. Be it politics, education, technology or whatever, it has always taken more than a gutsy effort by women to get their rights to freedom and expression. And the filed of art is no different.

In the 18th and the 19th century, art in America was a male bastion and American women artists were considered inferior beings who did not a sense of perception and therefore were suited better to home chores alone. All that began to change with the advent of the 20th century. In the beginning of the 20th century, American women artists began to claim their rights as artists. One such woman was Mary Cassatt.

She was one of the many important reasons for American women artists to get the recognition they always deserved. Another American women artist of note was Edmonia Lewis. Born in Albany, New York on July 4, 1845, Edmonia Lewis was the child of an African-American father and a Chippewa Indian mother. Both parents passed away when Edmonia was a young girl and it was decided that she should go live with two aunts on her mother's side of the family.

Edmonia learned to make Native-American crafts and had an aptitude for creating things. She studied art briefly at Oberlin College.After being expelled from Oberlin College, Lewis went to Boston to study independently with Edward Brackett. She eventually opened her own studio, at first creating and selling medallions and busts of well-known Civil War heroes. She went, for a time, to work, creating several marble, neo-classical-style sculptures, in Rome Even there, however, she was alienated due to her ethnicity and she constantly had to prove herself. Gradually though, she gained positive recognition in both Europe and America.

Some of Edmonia Lewis's most notable pieces include Hagar in the Wilderness, The Old Arrowmaker and His Daughter, The Death of Cleopatra, Adoration of the Magi and Forever Free. Sadly her popularity as an artist waned and there is little information on her life after that.She died in 1911. Another great American women artist worth mentioning is Anna Mary Robertson Moses, popularly known as Grandma Moses, because of her age. She was truly an inspiration to all the others as she showed that it is never too late to let your creative juices flow. Had it not been for these three great American women artists, women would have never got the recognition as artists. Kudos to all three of them.

By: alexlewey

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