Girl Skating

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Object Details

Artist
Abastenia St. Léger Eberle, born Webster City, IA 1878-died New York City 1942
Luce Center Label
Abastenia Eberle created several bronze casts of Girl Skating (also known as Roller Skating or Girl with Roller Skate). A year after she was elected to the National Sculpture Society, Eberle exhibited Girl Skating in New York City and Philadelphia. As her first piece that displayed the children of Manhattan's streets, it marked the beginning of her focus on urban poverty. Eberle addressed social issues in this sculpture while capturing the spirit of these poor communities. Girl Skating's uneven surfaces accentuate the girl's tattered appearance, yet her outstretched arms and open-mouthed expression still convey joy and the thrill of play.
Luce Object Quote
"The children of the East side play without restraint; their griefs and their joys are expressed with absolute abandon. . . . They laugh loudly. They shout. They race on roller skates and dance unrestrainedly. I can get at the human quality in these children. They are real— real as can be. They express life." The artist, quoted in the Washington Post, 1906
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the C.K. Williams Foundation
modeled 1906
Object number
2011.29
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Sculpture
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
12 7/8 x 11 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. (32.8 x 29.2 x 17.2 cm)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 3rd Floor, North Wing
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Figure female\child\full length
Recreation\sport and play\skating
Record ID
saam_2011.29
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7bc1473a3-e931-4417-8d32-f93d1b72fc40
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