Meet Lilly Martin Spencer, one of the most widely reproduced and popular American genre painters of the mid 19th century. While many women studied art as a measure of refinement, Lilly pursed a career as an artist. Her husband became a stay-at-home father, helping with domestic chores and raising their thirteen children. Theirs was a happy marriage, allowing Lilly to pursue her art.
And a self portrait . . .
http://www.nmwa.org/explore/artist-profiles/lilly-martin-spencer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilly_Martin_Spencer
https://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/american_quarterly/v056/56.2masten.html
http://72.9.254.50/view/people/asitem/items$0040null:1057/0
I love the one with the woman crying because she,s chopping onions.
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I think that one’s great, too. Those must be strong onions! There’s no attempt to make her look glamorous.
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OMGosh, I’ve never heard of her! Love her work AND her story. I’m always on the look out for strong women to teach my grand-daughter about (granted she’s only about to turn one, but I’m getting a collection!) Thanks for introducing me to her.
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