Curriculum Materials: Art in America
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Image 23 Clementine Hunter Questions: |
Think Questions
1. Do you think this is a happy picture? A sad picture? Why do you think so?
2. Why might Hunter have painted with such bright colors? How would it change the way the painting affects you if she painted the whole ground brown and green like the area in the FOREGROUND?
3. Why do you think Clementine Hunter chose to paint a scene of women doing the wash? How would her painting be different if she made it today? What activities from your life would you like to show in a work of art?
4. The African House in Hunter's painting was designed and built according to one woman's recollections of her home in Africa. What aspects of your household reflect the heritage of members of your family? From what continents or countries did your family come? How long ago? Have you ever visited any of these places? What do you remember most about any of these places?
5. Clementine Hunter is called a FOLK ARTIST. What does the word "folk" mean? Why might certain types of art be called folk art? Some people argue that folk art is not really art. Why might they think this? Do you think folk art should be considered art? What do you like best about Hunter's folk painting?
6. Compare Hunter's image of women working on a southern plantation to other images of women in this presentation (Mrs. Nathaniel Allen; woman in Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue; women in The Steerage; Migrant Mother; woman in Harlem Couple; Homage to Nina Simone.) What are the different women doing? How old do you think the women are? How does each artist convey this to you? How does their clothing differ? What might account for these differences? How do their different appearances, clothing, and activities reflect the varied roles of women throughout the history of the United States? How do the time periods in which the art works were created affect the way the women are portrayed?
7. Compare Hunter's The Wash with Bob Thompson's Homage to Nina Simone. What do these paintings have in common? How does the use of color differ? How does each artist show depth? Why do you think Hunter is often called a FOLK ARTIST while Bob Thompson is not? Do you think each painting shows a real or an imaginary place? Explain your answer.
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