Lesson Two

Integrated Concepts• Language Arts: character’s feelings, story elements,

main idea/details• Social Studies: roles in society, cultural context• Visual Art: color, pattern, art history

This is an artwork by Mary Cassatt

• What would be a good title for this artwork?

• What is the woman doing?

• Why do you think the artist created a work of art about this?

What is the setting of this artwork?Support your answers.

• Where is the woman sitting? Is she at home or at work?

• What country do you think may be the setting?

• What period of time is indicated by the furniture, clothing, or hair style?

• What time of day do you think it may be?

Look very carefully at the artwork. What details do you notice?

• What colors do you see?• What patterns do you see?• What shapes do you see?• Where is the artist standing

in relation to the woman? Is the artist looking up or down at the woman?

What does the artist want to tell us about the woman in the artwork? Why do you

think that?

• What is her role in her culture? Is she married?

• How old is she?• Does she have a family?• What is she feeling? Is the

letter about something very important?

• What important subjects do people write letters about?

This is another artwork about a woman and a letter. Look carefully at this image.

• What is the setting of this artwork? Can you tell where and when this image is set?

• Are these women at home, at work, or somewhere else?

• What evidence do you see that supports your answers?

Who are the women in this artwork? What is their role in their culture? How do you know?

• What do you think each of them is doing?

• What do you think they might be saying or thinking?

• Are these women rich or poor? What clues do you see?

What is your response or reaction to the women in these works of art?

• Do they seem familiar or strange to you?

• Can you imagine yourself in either picture?

• Can you imagine that these are people in your family or people you know?

Let’s compare and contrast these two images. How are they alike? How are they different?

• What do you notice about color?• What do you notice about pattern?• What shapes do you see?• Where is the artist in each situation?• How close or far away do the people in the

artwork seem?• How “real” do the people look?• Can you guess how the pictures were

made? Do they look like paintings, drawings, prints or collage?

Can you imagine a story about either of these artworks?

• Would your story be fiction or non-fiction?

• Would it be an exciting mystery, a sad story, or a funny story?

• What names would you give the woman or women.

• What other characters would you put into the story?

Information About the Art and the Artist

Artist: Mary Cassatt (American 1844-1926) Title: The LetterMedium: Drypoint and aquatintSize: 13 5/8 x 8 5/16Date: 1891Comments: One of a set of ten prints exhibited together

Artist: Kunisada II (Japanese 1823 – 1880)Title: Fuji no Uraba (Wisteria): Illustration of Chapter 33 from

Tale of GenjiMedium: Wood Block PrintSize: 14” x 9 5/8”Date: Circa 1855Comments: Wood block prints helped western cultures learn

about the culture of Japan.