Creative Americans: Portraits by Carl Van Vechten
This collection of photographs by Carl Van Vecten and housed at the Library of Congress were taken between 1932 and 1964 and includes portraits of artists, actors, writers, musicians and other celebrities, as well as some key figures of the Harlem Renaissance.
Intended Audience: General Reading Level: N/A Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Arts: Visual Arts

  Curriculum Standard 4

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade eight students will be able to:

• Compare the characteristics of works of art representing various cultures, historical periods, and artists.

• Describe and place a variety of art objects by style and artist, and by historical and cultural contexts.

• Describe how a given work of art can be interpreted differently in various cultures and time.

• Analyze, describe, and demonstrate how factors of time and place influence visual characteristics that give meaning and value to a work of art.

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade twelve students will be able to:

• Differentiate among a variety of historical and cultural contexts in terms of characteristics and purposes of works of art.

• Analyze relationships among works of art in terms of history, aesthetics, and culture, using their observations to inform their own art making.

• Understand various critical models of interpreting works from several historical periods and cultures.

• Analyze common characteristics of visual arts evident across time and among cultural/ethnic groups to formulate analyses, evaluations, and interpretations of meaning.

  Curriculum Standard 5

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade eight students will be able to:

• Compare multiple purposes for creating works of art.

• Analyze the meanings of contemporary and historic artworks.

• Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their own and others’ work by using specific criteria.

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade twelve students will be able to:

• Research and analyze historic meaning and purpose in various works of art.

• Defend personal interpretations to better understand specific works of art.

• Reflect critically on various interpretations to better understand specific works of art.

• Analyze and interpret art works identifying relationships among form, context and purposes.

  Curriculum Standard 17

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade twelve students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of major topics in the study of the 1920s: A Decade of Prosperity and Problems (1920-1930) including economic changes and their ramifications; progress and conflict in the social and cultural scene; domestic politics; and foreign relations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of major topics in the study of the Depression and the New Deal (1929-1941) including the origins of the Great Depression and its effects on people and society; the major approaches and programs of the New Deal; and the continuing debate over the successes and failures of the New Deal.
• Demonstrate an understanding of major topics in the study of World War II and the Cold War (1939-1961) including the causes, conduct, course, and aftermath of World War II; effects of the war on the homefront; the emergence of the United States as a superpower; the origins of the Cold War; and postwar political developments at home and abroad.
• Demonstrate an understanding of major topics in the study of the Recent United States (1949-present) including the Civil Rights and women's movements; new immigration policies; foreign policy developments; the Cold War; post-World War II conflicts; technological and economic change; expanding religious diversity and the growth of religious evangelicalism; and the United States in the contemporary world.