Curriculum Materials: Art in America
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Image 15 John F. Peto Questions: |
Think Questions
1. Is this a painting of a door, a photograph, or a COLLAGE of objects on a door? Why do you think so? After a discussion, tell the students that it is a painting. Color photography was not available before 1935. Why might the artist want to paint something that looked so much like a real door?
2. How would you describe the mood of this painting? How does Peto create this mood? Why might Peto have wanted to convey this mood? Consider the title of this painting. What happened in the United States in 1865? What happened in America in the subsequent years? How might the death of his father in 1895 also have influenced Peto's painting?
3. This painting is called Reminiscences of 1865. What does "reminiscences" mean? Why do you think Peto would want people to remember Abraham Lincoln? What role did Lincoln play in American history? Do you think Peto's image of Abraham Lincoln is heroic? Why or why not? What aspect of Lincoln has he emphasized?
4. SYMBOLISM refers to the use of familiar objects to refer to something else or to suggest deeper meanings. How has Peto used symbolism in Reminiscences of 1865?
5. Peto's painting is an homage to Abraham Lincoln. Compare his homage to Bob Thompson's Homage to Nina Simone. What do the paintings have in common? What are some of the biggest differences between these two homages? How does the overall effect of each work differ from that of the other? What factors might account for the differences? Consider: the subjects being honored-one, a dead U.S. president, the other, a famous jazz singer; the dates of the paintings-1900 and 1965. If you were going to make an homage to someone you admire, who would you choose? What colors would you use? What objects would you include? What setting would you choose?
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