Artist:

William Edmondson, born Nashville, TN 1874-died Nashville, TN 1951  Search this

Medium:

carved limestone

Dimensions:

12 × 3 7/8 × 7 5/8 in. (30.5 × 9.8 × 19.4 cm)

Type:

Sculpture

Folk Art

Date:

ca. 1932-1940

Exhibition Label:

William Edmondson began making gravestones for the African American community of Nashville, Tennessee, around 1927. Using a railroad spike as his chisel, he hammered local limestone into geometric headstones and sculptural forms of animals and people. His figural works are among his most poignant, tributes to everyday heroes, including Black teachers, signaling their elevated status with books in hand, subtly carved into the figure’s side as an inherent part of their identity.

(We Are Made of Stories: Self-Taught Artists in the Robson Family Collection, 2022)

Topic:

Occupation\education\teacher  Search this

Figure female\full length  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Margaret Z. Robson Collection, Gift of John E. and Douglas O. Robson

Object number:

2016.38.88

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Painting and Sculpture

On View:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 26B

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7f85da1d9-16d3-4b12-854d-af41915614a8

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2016.38.88