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Church Lady

A work made of limestone.

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  • A work made of limestone.

Date:

1933–37

Artist:

William Edmondson (American, 1874–1951)

About this artwork

William Edmondson carved Church Lady with an abbreviated touch, barely giving form to the woman’s facial features and outfit as she holds a Bible in one hand and her purse in the other. This sculpture is one of several that Edmondson carved representating people from his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Inspired by a divine calling, he first produced tombstones for members of his community and later turned to freestanding sculptures like Church Lady that reflected its social structures and values. By the time he had completed this work, Edmondson was on his way to broader acclaim, and in 1937 was the first Black artist to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Status

On View, Gallery 161

Department

Arts of the Americas

Artist

William Edmondson

Title

Church Lady

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1933–1937

Medium

Limestone

Dimensions

48.7 × 19.4 × 19.4 cm (19 3/16 × 7 11/16 × 7 11/16 in.)

Credit Line

Through prior acquisition of the George F. Harding Collection

Reference Number

2014.4

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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