This set was created to help Pennsylvania teachers in grades 5, 8, and 12 meet Pennsylvania Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities, specifically Historical and Cultural Context (9.2.)
9.2, D. Analyze a work of art from its historical and cultural perspective.
9.2, E. Analyze how historical events and culture impact forms, techniques and purposes of works in the arts
In addition to meeting those standards, this set will also help teachers in grades 5-8 meet National Standards in "Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and Cultures" (NA-VA.5-8.4).
By presenting information about the Great Depression paralleled with images, students will see how the Great Depression affected the art of the time period.
| More Info |
Learning Goals
1. Students will be introduced to The Great Depression and learn how it affected Americans as well as the art of the time.
2. Students will be able to analyze and differentiate art created that depicts the hardships of the depression, art that depicts the theme of Regionalism, and art created from the New Deal.
3. Students will think critically and creatively as they uncover the meaning behind images using Visual Thinking Strategies.
| More Info |
Let's start by taking a close look at this picture.
What's going on in this picture?
What do you see that makes you feel that way?
Artist: Dorothea Lange
Date: 1936
Medium: Photographs, Photograph
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
| More Info |
The Great Depression was a severe economic recession that began in 1929 and lasted until 1939. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “It was the longest and most severe depression ever experienced by the industrialized Western World.” The Great Depression caused extreme unemployment, banks to fail, and overall depression amongst the people.
"50% of children did not have adequate food, shelter, or medical care."
Understanding more about the Great Depression, take another look at this photograph. How does the color of this photograph affect the mood?
| More Info |
Did you know that the unemployment rate was at 25% during the Great Depression, meaning 1 out of 4 people did not have a job during the Great Depression.
What do you think is going on in this image?
What do you know about the Great Depression that could support your findings?
Have you ever seen an image that looked like this?
Artist: Dorothea Lange
Date: 1933
Medium: Photographs, Photograph
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
| More Info |
The Great Depression affected all people in all different ways. People who worked on farms or in the field were affected because of extreme droughts and dust storms that were prevalent during the 1930s. The farmland was deemed useless and many families were forced to flee their homes.
What narrative can you write based on this image?
Artist: Arthur Rothstein
Date: 1936
Medium: Photographs, Photograph
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
| More Info |
During the Great Depression there was an art movement known as Regionalism. It took place in the Midwest during the 1930s. The artists of this movement shunned city life and were known for glorifying the land, people, and values of rural America in their art.
Why do you think the American people took comfort in the paintings done by the Regionalist during the Great Depression? List some of the characteristics you see in the next few paintings (subject matter, color, light, shapes, etc.)
Artist: Grant Wood
Date: 1931
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
| More Info |
| More Info |
Look at these two landscapes, what do you see?
How do you feel when you look at the images?
What are the similarities?
What are the differences?
| More Info | More Info |
| More Info |
| More Info |
Here is an example of a mural created during the depression. This New Deal mural was painted in 1937 by Henry Billings and can be found on a wall of the United States Post Office building.
Have you ever seen murals in public places? Can you remember the subject of the mural? How do you think this mural would make patrons of the post office feel?
| More Info |
| More Info |
Now that you have an understanding of the Great Depression, Regionalism, and New Deal Murals, what scene would you depict in a mural and what public place would you place it? Who would you hope would see it? Why?
If you were president during an economic depression what would you do to raise morale and give people jobs?
WPA mural painted by George Grooms 1936 Callanan Middle School, Des Moines, Iowa
| More Info |
You have reached the end of the slideshow.
Please close the window or start over.
