Minnehaha

Edmonia Lewis, a talented sculptor with African American and Native American (Anishinaabe/Ojibwe) heritage, found her creative haven in Rome, Italy (like many American artists of the 19th century). Her unique background and womanhood deeply influenced her choice of themes for her art. From 1866 to 1872, she crafted a captivating series of marble sculptures of the characters of Hiawatha and Minnehaha from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem, The Song of Hiawatha (1855). These charming, cabinet-sized busts portray the tragic romance of the pair from once-hostile tribes (Anishinaabe and Dakota), beautifully merging a classic sculptural style with elements of Native American clothing and accessories.

As you may know, we try very hard to promote the artworks of Women Artists; we are very happy we could feature Edmonia Lewis today, as we are also celebrating Black History Month. And if you would like to enjoy more works women created, please check out our Women Artists 50 Postcards Set!

P.S. Explore the fabulous sculpture and mysterious life of Edmonia Lewis! For more women sculptors, see the articles below.