1919

Portrait of Violet Oakley

American, 1888 - 1981

Edith Emerson became Violet Oakley’s studio assistant in 1916, sparking the beginning of their forty-five-year artistic and romantic partnership. First meeting Oakley while a student in her mural painting class at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Emerson described her instructor as "the most stimulating . . . [and] electrifying teacher." This painting—sometimes described as Oakley’s "official" portrait—captures Emerson’s respect and reverence for her companion, who was considered the greatest woman muralist of her time. Although this is a portrait of her lover, Emerson does not sexualize or objectify Oakley’s form. Instead, she depicts a strong and cerebral woman with a confident posture and preoccupied stare.