Sculpture Artis Lane with her statue of Sojourner Truth
- tourdeforcedc
- Apr 17
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 1
Sojourner Truth (nee Isabella Baumfree,) bust, US Capitol (Emancipation Hall), by Canadian sculptor Artis Lane
Background:
In 1920, sculptures of three white women suffrage leaders, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott., were placed in the Rotunda, but a representation of Sojourner Truth, who had contributed greatly to the women’s suffrage struggle, was notably lacking. A long campaign to include her culminated in 2006, when President Bush signed legislation authorizing the new statue’s creation. However, the Sojourner Truth has not been placed adjacent with the white women suffrage campaigners, but is rather in Emancipation Hall
Prompts for closer looking:
How has the artist Artis Lane conveyed the complexity and dignity of her subject?
How different is the depiction of Truth from the other 18th and 19th century historical figures depicted in the Capitol?
Reflect on the placement of this sculpture? Should she have been placed in the company of the other women’s suffrage leaders?
Learning Resources
The bust of Sojourner Truth stands out from the majority of the statues in the Capitol most primarily with her expression. Unlike the furled-brow serious expressions possessed by the bulk of the figures donated to the Capitol, Truth bears a very knowing half-smile. Her smile could be a choice of the artist as a sort of commentary on Truth's absence from the initially commissioned homage to suffrage leaders, as though Truth herself was equally unimpressed by Congress's initial decision but feels a sort of smug satisfaction to cause a stir with her eventual rightful inclusion. Of course, it could also just be a half-smile to show that despite facing struggle throughout her life and now to face it even after,…