How Artists Put a Spin on Early American History

Jim HannaReilly Elementary School7th Grade Social Studies

Grant Wood, American, 1891-1942

Parson Weems’ Fable

1939, oil on canvas, 38 1/8 x 50 1/8 in.

Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas

Important Facts or Ideas about the Artworkthat Guided the Lesson

Based on an apocryphal story from Parson Mason Weems’ 1806 book, A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits of General George Washington. Painted in 1939, with World War II beginning in Europe and Asia. Wood felt it was important to preserve America’s “patriotic mythology” at that time in history.

Goals for the Lesson: What I Hoped My Students Would

Learn

One of the purposes of art is to tell a story. Our interpretations of historical events can be based upon literary or artistic representation. These interpretations can become the myths that influence our understanding of history.

Student Activities

Students performed a close read of Parson Weems’ Fable. Students chose a work of art inspired by an event in early American history. Students researched the work and the actual event and observed differences between the event and the artist’s interpretation

The students were presented with perhaps the best-known of the

American historical myths: George Washington and the cherry tree.

“Is that Washington looking at himself as a kid?”

“It’s the cherry tree story, right?”

“He’s got the dollar bill head!” “The trees match the curtains.”

Students did research comparing the event as portrayed in the painting to the actual historical background.

What My Students Gained from the Activity

Our interpretation of a historical event can change as time passes.

The artist can alter our impressions of an historical event through his/her work.

Art can be a major aspect of a study of American history.

As seen in the painting there is an angel the angel in this point is representing progress in America, in the way everything was develop in a better way, of independence, and the way the government worked.

On the left hand of the angel there is located a book that represents education and knowledge.

Next to the angel there is Indians running away which represents how they weren’t able to adapt to the advancement the Americans made.

In the back the of the angel there is a glimpse of what it would be like in the future.

On her right hand she has telegraph wires that would soon bind the nation.

Sample of Student Slide

During the year 1877, when the painting was created, the compromise of 1877 was made. In 1877 the Southern white resistance and the withdrawal of federal supervision brought about the "redemption" of the South, and African Americans were disenfranchised.

Sample of Student Slide

What I Learned from Teaching the Activity

Art should be a major aspect of a study of American history.

Analyzing art and analyzing text involve most of the same procedures (and art is usually more

fun).

A picture is worth a thousand words.