Old Arrow Maker

에드모니아 루이스 · 1872 · 미국 자연사 박물관, 워싱턴 디씨

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The painting

Artist: 에드모니아 루이스 (1844–1907)
Date: 1872
Medium: Marble
Movement: Neoclassicism
Period: 19th Century · Mature Period
Collection: 미국 자연사 박물관, 워싱턴 디씨
Popularity: Notable

man
woman
marble sculpture
arrow
white marble
carved base

Colours

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팔레트: Earthy
주요 색상: Black
강도: Monochromatic
대비: Statement
조화: Unified Palette
밝기: Deep_shadow
채도: Muted

The painter

에드모니아 루이스

1844–1907 · Neoclassicism, Neoclassical

에드모니아 루이스 (1844-1907): 흑인 역사, 원주민 문화 및 폐지론을 탐구한 신고전주의 작품으로 찬사받는 선구적인 아프리카계 미국인 및 아메리카 원주민 조각가.

All works by 에드모니아 루이스

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Painted in 1872, when 에드모니아 루이스 was 28. 8 of the 16 dated works in the catalogue came before it.

Where it hangs

미국 예술의 풍부한 역사를 경험하세요! 시대를 초월하는 명작과 다양한 전통을 선보이는 Smithsonian 미국 예술관으로 떠나보세요. Smithsonian 예술관, 워싱턴 DC, 미국 미술품 컬렉션, Renwick 미술관, 오ールド 특허 사무실 건물 미국 예술의 풍부한 역사를 경험하세요! 시대를 초월하는 명작과 다양한 전통을 선보이는 Smithsonian 미국 예술관으로 떠나보세요. 미국 예술의 풍부한 역사를 경험하세요! meta_description

Visit the 미국 자연사 박물관 page

At home & gifts

Vibe: Romantic
Emotional tone: Melancholic
Suggested room: Living Room
Purpose: Statement

On this site

Reproductions, previews and the other pages made for this painting.

QuizTest yourself — 5 questions 0 / 5

Question 1 of 5

What is the medium used for the sculpture 'Old Arrow Maker'?

Question 2 of 5

Who is the artist of 'Old Arrow Maker'?

Question 3 of 5

In which year was the sculpture 'Old Arrow Maker' carved?

Question 4 of 5

The sculpture 'Old Arrow Maker' is created in which artistic style?

Question 5 of 5

Which poem served as the inspiration for this artwork?

Questions & answers

the guide answers

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The story of the painting

A powerful neoclassical marble sculpture by Edmonia Lewis depicting a poignant moment of cultural interaction between a Native American man and a European woman, inviting you to explore this historic masterpiece.

A Moment Frozen in Marble

The white marble holds a quiet tension, as if the air around these two figures is thick with concentration. An elder man kneels upon a circular base, his hands occupied with the delicate task of shaping an arrow. Beside him, a younger person watches closely, eyes fixed on the movement of the craftsman. There is a shared focus here, a stillness that suggests the world outside this small circle has ceased to exist. The smooth, polished surfaces of the stone catch the light, tracing the curves of the man's anatomy and the soft folds of the woman's garments. Every line carved into the stone speaks of a singular purpose.

The texture of the sculpture shifts between the sleekness of skin and the more rugged details found in the clothing and the base. Fine lines define individual strands of hair, while the weight of the marble gives the figures a sense of permanence. In this frozen second, the act of creation is all that matters. The arrow being fashioned serves as a linear anchor within the organic shapes of the human forms.

Echoes of Legend and Identity

This scene draws its breath from the verses of The Song of Hiawatha, bringing a literary moment into the physical realm. The figures embody a connection to ancestral traditions, seen in the subtle details of their attire, such as the Anishinaabe deer-hide moccasins and vests. A Dakota bear-claw necklace rests against the stone, adding a layer of specific cultural detail to the neoclassical forms. While the style follows the smooth, idealized traditions of neoclassicism, the subject matter remains deeply rooted in Indigenous storytelling.

The interaction between the elder and the youth carries an emotional weight that transcends the coldness of the medium. There is a sense of passing knowledge, a silent dialogue between generations through the medium of craft. The way the younger figure leans toward the maker suggests curiosity or perhaps a quiet reverence for the skill being demonstrated. Through this work, the struggle for identity and the preservation of tradition are rendered in stone, making the ephemeral act of teaching feel enduring.