Artist Biographies and History

We focus on artists that were known for bringing something new to the art of their period; a fresh idea, a new insight, or some element of good artistic practice, which can broaden the thinking of children and inspire them to create for themselves. 

Each art history lesson tells the story of a place in time, emphasizing an aspect of that culture or artist that we can gain artistic insight from. The artist might be inspired by subjects as diverse as nature (American landscape artists and the art of Japan), by industrialism (Impressionists of 1850s), by a belief in the power to persuade through art (Roman), by individualism (Europe and America 1900s), or by strong moral convictions (Middle Ages). The artist might simply be searching for a way to make figures more life-like and succeed in changing the world with the tilt of a head (Cimabue, 1300s). 

See samples of K-3rd Grade Art History lesson and a 4th-12th Biography and History lesson below.