How did Edmonia Lewis use Black and Native American heritage in Neoclassical sculpture?

Edmonia Lewis, an American sculptor of African American and Ojibwe descent, utilized her heritage to infuse the traditional Neoclassical style with themes of liberation and cultural identity.12

In her work, Lewis addressed her Black heritage by responding to the political climate of the United States, particularly the Emancipation Proclamation. She created powerful sculptures such as The Freed Woman and Her Child (1866) and Forever Free (1867), which directly engaged with the themes of freedom and the abolitionist movement.2

Regarding her Native American roots, Lewis drew inspiration from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem The Song of Hiawatha (1855). She translated these Native American themes into marble through works like The Marriage of Hiawatha (c. 1868) and The Old Arrow Maker and His Daughter. By mastering the technical demands of marble carving—often refusing to hire assistants to ensure the work was entirely her own—Lewis successfully navigated the male-dominated Neoclassical art world of Rome while centering her unique cultural perspective in her artistic output.2