Julia
(Letitia)
Helen Rogers
Giclée print on fine art paper, mounted on board
$100
Artist Statement
Letitia Tyler was an intellectual, soft-spoken introvert, and her husband’s closest confidant. Some credit her with guiding his political path to the White House. Multiple strokes left her bedridden and took her life before she could enjoy the prestige she had worked hard to gain. As Letitia lay dying in her bedroom, her husband entertained guests under the same roof. Among them was a young Julia Gardiner, who became Julia Tyler less than a year after Letitia’s death.
While both women were unrepentant slave owners who married the same man, they had little else in common. Unlike Letitia, Julia was neither involved in nor particularly aware of politics. She was an extrovert, and made waves in a culture of restraint with her unapologetic display of wealth and extravagance. While Julia’s behavior can be judged as frivolous and gaudy, she could also be seen as being ahead of her time with none of the submissive modesty her world expected of her, and too often still expects from women to this day.
About the Artist
I utilize a variety of mediums, both analog and digital, to make drawings that focus on women and the female form. I employ scale and interactivity to create narratives that are often self-referential. This practice allows me to explore my relationship with myself and the world around me. www.helenrogers.net