This document provides instructions for an assignment analyzing 4 works of American art from the first half of the 20th century. Students are asked to choose 4 artworks from a provided list and, for each one, write a paragraph describing the visual elements and how they work together, as well as a paragraph analyzing the subject matter and possible meaning in the context of when it was created. The goal is for students to utilize their initial observations and understanding, without external research, to analyze and interpret the artworks.

1. First Look
When analyzing art, you should look for the various elements to
help determine its structure, meaning and value. The traditional
seven elements are as follows:
Line
Shape
Space
Color
Value
Texture
These two resources give details about each one:
The John Paul Getty Museum –
Elements of Art
Robert J. McKnight Memorial –
Alphabet of Art
Without conducting ANY additional research this week, we are
going to explore what you initially see and think when you look
at a work of art. This activity is meant to help you understand:
Utilize the formal vocabulary in describing works of art
Analyze how the subject and context of work can help with
interpretation
Select four (4) works of the first half of 20th century American
art from the list below.
For each work of art:
1. List the artist, date and title.
Write a paragraph that discusses the visual elements in the art
work (For example, are the shapes geometric, or organic. What
colors are used, etc.?). Using the resources above, describe how
the elements work together. Note: You do not have to use every
element in your description, but rather the two or three that
seem to be the most prominent in the work.
Write a second paragraph that describes the subject matter of
the art work. What do you the artist might have been trying to
say with this art work? Remember to consider the time frame in
which the artwork was made. *Remember that you should not

2. conduct research on this art work – the grade is based on your
ability to support how the subject matter or time frame helped
you interpret the meaning.
Your essay should be no less than 200 words for each of the
four works you are examining (for a combined total of no less
than 800 words).
George Bellows, New York, 1911
http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/Collection/art-object-
page.69392.html
Georgia O’Keeffe, The Shelton with Sunspots, N.Y., 1926
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/citi/images/standard/WebLa
rge/WebIm g_000153/5215_1643843.jpg
Charles Sheeler, American Landscape, 1930
http://www.wikiart.org/en/charles-sheeler/american-landscape-
1930
Alexandre Hogue, Erosion No. 2: Earth Mother Laid Bare, 1936
https://philbrook.org/explore/art/erosion-no-2-%E2%80%93-
mother-earth-laid-bare-0
Jacob Lawrence. Migration Series, No. 58. 1940‐1941.
http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2015/onewaytick
et/panel/58
Willem de Kooning, Woman III, 1951‐1953
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e7/Woman3.jpg
Jackson Pollock, Convergence, 1952
http://www.jackson-pollock.org/convergence.jsp
When you are finished, please submit your essay to the drop box
as a singledocument.