Children at the FSA (Farm Security Administration) Camelback Farms inspect the photographer's camera, Phoenix, Arizona

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

For an Elementary School 4th or 5th Grade Art Class

Students should have prior knowledge of the elements of art.

What Might Primary Sources What Might Primary Sources Tell Us About Art?Tell Us About Art?

What Might Primary Sources What Might Primary Sources Tell Us About Art?Tell Us About Art?

Determine what you see and what questions you might ask to….

“get the big picture”

Gas ration stamps being printed, Bureau of Engraving & Printing

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

What shapes do you see?

What do you think these new shapes represent?

Where is the art element of line used?

Does the texture of the house look smooth or rough? Why?

How are these new shapes different than the others?

Who might these figures represent?

Name the colors you see.

What values do you see?

Where did the artist use overlapping shapes to show space?

Who do you think the figures are communicating with?

How do you think the figures are feeling?

Are they happy, sad, or angry?

Why is this figure dressed different than the others?

Using all of the clues, make a hypothesis about what is happening in this painting.

Why do you think William H. Johnson chose this as a subject to paint?

Make another hypothesis about the setting for this picture. Is this a scene from the past, present, or future?

What title would you give to this painting?

Off to War created in 1942 by William H. Johnson - Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Based on these clues was your Hypothesis correct?

•What makes this a great work of art? Would this painting be as interesting if any of the elements of art we discussed were missing? (shape, line, texture, color, value, space)

•Where do artists get their ideas? In what ways do culture and experience inspire artistic expression?

Understanding the Big Picture!Understanding the Big Picture!

• Additional information about William H. Johnson is on the following slides.

• Teachers may choose or choose not to incorporate it in as part of the Zoom-In Inquiry activity.

• Johnson, William Howard • (b Florence, SC, 18 March 1901; d Long Island, NY, 13 April 1970). American

painter. His early education was intermittent, but his drawing skills were developed through cartoon work for local newspapers. At 17 he moved to New York, where he found work as a stevedore, cook and hotel porter. From 1923 to 1926 he attended the National Academy of Design in New York and Hawthorne’s Cape Cod School of Art at Provincetown. On his graduation funds were raised by supporters to enable further study in Paris, where he stayed for three years, absorbing the impact of such European Expressionists and simplifying his paintings to bold rhythmic compositions. In Paris he met Holcha Krake (1885–1944), a Danish textile designer, whom he married. The couple traveled through Europe, returning to the USA in 1930. Johnson received an award from the Harmon Foundation for ‘Distinguished Achievement among Negroes’. He subsequently developed a broader technique with richness of texture and colour. With his wife he settled in Denmark. A visit to Scandinavia inspired dynamic landscapes that found an interested critical response. This period marked the height of the artist’s expressionist phase. After returning to New York (1938), Johnson changed his style to produce flat designs with patterns of brilliant colour, emulating stained glass, depicting religious subjects and scenes from Black American history. His wife’s death was destabilizing and to maintain a precarious existence he took work in the Navy Yard, but he left in 1946 to stay with his wife’s family in Denmark. However, he returned to New York to be hospitalized in Islip, Long Island, where he remained until his death. His estate of 1100 works was accommodated by the Harmon Foundation until its closure, when it was dispersed among interested organizations.

Source-Grove Dictionary of Art

Other Work by Johnson Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Jitterbugs IIIOn a John Brown flight

Going to Church Sowing

Training for War

Street Musicians

What Were Two of William Johnson’s What Were Two of William Johnson’s Favorite Subjects to Paint?Favorite Subjects to Paint?

Religious Subjects from Black American Culture

Scenes from Black American History

Does this help?

Follow-Up Art ActivitiesFollow-Up Art Activities

1. Paint a picture using a minimum of three art elements to depict a scene from your daily life.

2. Create a paper collage using a minimum of four art elements to depict a scene from American history.

3. Make a three dimensional sculpture utilizing all seven art elements to symbolize a family tradition or event.

National Standards for National Standards for Arts EducationArts Education

National Standards for National Standards for Arts EducationArts Education

Content Standard #5:

• Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others

Content Standard #4

• Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures

Useful LinksUseful LinksUseful LinksUseful Links

• Artcyclopedia• brigantine.atlnet.org• Art.com• Allposters.com• Whjohnsongrant.org• Americanart.com• Scpronet.com• artnet.com