Rabbit

William Edmondson, Rabbit, ca. 1940, carved limestone, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.241
William Edmondson, Rabbit, ca. 1940, carved limestone, 12 5858 in. (32.012.720.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.241

Artwork Details

Title
Rabbit
Date
ca. 1940
Dimensions
12 5858 in. (32.012.720.3 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved limestone
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — rabbit
Object Number
1986.65.241

Artwork Description

William Edmondson drew inspiration from daily life, religion, and African American folklore in creating his limestone figures. In many parts of Africa, the rabbit appears in folklore as the quintessential trickster, a character that relies on intelligence and wits to overcome adversity. For enslaved Africans in the United States, these traditional stories kept them connected and gave them hope. The tales of Br'er Rabbit were especially powerful, and Harlem Renaissance poet Arna Bontemps once called Br'er Rabbit the "adopted hero of the American Negro slave." Edmondson's parents were both former slaves, and the artist likely grew up hearing tales devised to teach children how to think, behave, and survive. He carved numerous variations of the rabbit, more than any other animal figure.

Works by this artist (61 items)

James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1952, found paper, soot, and color of unknown origin, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.27.47
Untitled
Dateca. 1952
found paper, soot, and color of unknown origin
On view
James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1931-1977, found paper and soot, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment

, 2013.27.30
Untitled
Dateca. 1931-1977
found paper and soot
On view
James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1931-1977, found paper and soot, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.27.27
Untitled
Dateca. 1931-1977
found paper and soot
On view
James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1931-1977, found paper and soot, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.27.29
Untitled
Dateca. 1931-1977
found paper and soot
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1931-1977, found paper, string, and wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.27.1
Untitled
Dateca. 1931-1977
found paper, string, and wood
Not on view
James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1931-1977, found paper, color of unknown origin, wheat paste and string, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.27.26
Untitled
Dateca. 1931-1977
found paper, color of unknown origin, wheat paste and string
Not on view