Slide #11: Country Politician, 1849, George Caleb Bingham Historical Content: It is in the portraits, landscapes, and genre scenes of everyday life that American cultural attitudes and political commentary reside. A work of art is similar to a time capsule from the period in which it was created; it provides insight into the ways people lived and thought. When studying a work of art for its historical perspective, the date in which it was painted is a critical piece of evidence. This painting was made in 1849, twelve years before the start of the Civil War. Looking at this painting tells us how people dressed, how a tavern looked, and what people did at this time. For example, we might learn something about what people did for entertainment by noticing the circus advertisement on the left wall. A newspaper art review from 1849 suggested that the men in this painting were discussing the Wilmot Proviso, a federal bill that sought to prohibit slavery in all new American territories. How might each of type of worker (laborer, farmer, merchant, politician) respond to the slavery debate? It is important to notice all of the fascinating details in this painting, but it is every bit as instructive to observe what has not been included? Why has the artist left out women and people of color?
SLIDE 11
LESSON PLAN #1
EXAMINING PAINTINGS FOR THEIR FUNCTIONAL, FORMAL, AND HISTORICAL CONTENT
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