Research: Luce Center for American Art

Traditional women's arts, related to the making and embellishing of costume and household goods, have historically been an important part of the lives of women in both indigenous and colonial American cultures. Before the Industrial Revolution, beginning in the late eighteenth century, women were occasionally trained in more academic artistic endeavors, especially in the case of family studios like that of the Peale family in Philadelphia. It was not until the rise of the machine dramatically transformed daily life, however, that women became professional artists and artisans in large numbers. Even then, the creative role of women was often limited. In the ceramics industry, for example, women traditionally were the painters and decorators and not the actual potters. In the last part of the nineteenth century, under the aegis of the Arts and Crafts Movement, with its celebration of handwork of all types, individual women emerged who excelled in both design and production of artistic objects. By then, most art schools were also open to women as well.

	13.1062	Bessie Potter Vonnoh Modern Madonna, 1904 View object details...
	19.95	Mary Cassatt Woman in a Red Bodice and Her Child, ca. 1901 View object details...
	28.385	Malvina Hoffman Senegalese Soldier, 1928 View object details...
	43.128.44	Rookwood Pottery Company Pitcher, 1883 View object details...
	57.125	Florine Stettheimer Heat, 1919 View object details...
	62.151	Newcomb Pottery Vase, 1902-1904 View object details...
	67.120.54	Clara Driscoll "Dragonfly" Lamp, ca. 1900-1920 View object details...
	70.26	Lilly Martin Spencer Kiss Me and You'll Kiss the 'Lasses, 1856 View object details...
	72.99	Marguerite Thompson Zorach Memories of My California Childhood, 1921 View object details...
	76.120	Alma W. Thomas Wind, Sunshine and Flowers, 1968 View object details...
	77.11	Georgia O'Keeffe Brooklyn Bridge, 1949 View object details...
	84.124.13	Helen Hughes Dulany Caviar Server, ca. 1930 View object details...
	84.176.4	Grace Young Vase, Chief Shavehead, ca. 1899 View object details...
	85.10	Maija Grotell Vase, ca. 1951 View object details...
	85.75.1	Eva Zeisel Baby Feeding Cup, ca. 1940 View object details...
	85.75.2	Eva Zeisel Baby Dish, ca. 1940 View object details...
	87.20	Mrs. M.E. Chichester Bowl, ca. 1916 View object details...
	87.120.1a-b	Dorothy Hafner Teapot and Lid from Three Piece Tea Service, Kyoto Homage Pattern, Designed 1980; Manufactured 1987 View object details...
	87.120.2a-b	Dorothy Hafner Sugar Bowl and Lid from Three Piece Tea Service, Kyoto Homage Pattern, Designed 1980; Manufactured in 1987 View object details...
	87.120.3	Dorothy Hafner Creamer from Three Piece Tea Service, Kyoto Homage Pattern, 1987 View object details...
	1990.68	Grace Chino Vase, 1989 View object details...
	1990.96.1	Elizabeth E. Copeland Box, ca. 1914 View object details...
	1991.258.1a-b	Marion Anderson Noyes Teapot with Lid, ca. 1933 View object details...
	1991.261.3a-b	Eva Zeisel Bean Pot with Lid, Town and Country Dinner Service, Designed ca. 1945; Manufactured ca. 1946 View object details...
	1992.40.50a-b	Marion Anderson Noyes Bowl with Cover, ca. 1950 View object details...
	1992.98.1a-b	Eva Zeisel Coffeepot with Lid, "Museum" Pattern, ca. 1942-1943 View object details...
	1992.98.2	Eva Zeisel Creamer, "Museum" Pattern, ca. 1942-1943 View object details...
	1992.98.9a-b	Eva Zeisel Cruet and Stopper, "Town and Country" Pattern, ca. 1942-1943 View object details...
	1992.98.10a-b	Eva Zeisel Cruet and Stopper, "Town and Country" Pattern, ca. 1942-1943 View object details...
	1994.124	Louise Bourgeois Décontractée, 1990 View object details...
	1999.113	Cecelia Beaux Mrs. Robert Abbe (Catherine Amory Bennett), 1898-1899 View object details...
	2003.55a-d	Margaret Foley Marble Relief of Pasuccia on Stand, ca. 1865 View object details...