Western Civilization: Development of the Twentieth Century
Portfolio Entry 2: Analysis of a Twentieth Century Work of Art
This portfolio entry is a part of the assessment for Unit IV “The Development of
Fascism and Nazism” and it is comprehensive in terms of involving political and social
ideas developed in the first four units as they are depicted in works of European art
dating from the early part of the century to the time of World War II.
Objectives
1. List the
elements of the
work of art,
i.e., list specific
objects, figures,
and/or colors
that you see in
the work of art.
2. Analyze the
work of art
using the list of
elements in the
work.
3. Set the work
of art in its
historical
context, i.e.,
explain its
connection to
political or
social
developments
in the time
period being
studied.
Beginning
1
The list is brief
consisting of
two or three
things in the
work of art.
Developing
2
The list is
limited
consisting of
four to five
things in the
work of art.
Accomplished
3
The list is
significant
consisting of
six to seven
things in the
work of art.
Exemplary
4
The list is
comprehensive
consisting of
eight to ten
things in the
work of art.
The analysis
explains a
relationship
between two
objects in the
work of art.
The analysis
explains
relationships
between two
pairs of objects
or among three
or four objects
in the work of
art.
The response
describes a
purpose of the
work of art and
explains whom
it was intended
to influence.
The analysis
explains the
relationships
between each
of three pairs
of objects or
among at least
six objects in
the work of art.
The response
states a
purpose of the
work of art,
explains whom
it was intended
to influence,
and describes
its historical
significance. In
other words,
explain why
the work of art
was important
for the time
period under
study in the
course.
The analysis
explains the
relationships
between each
of four pairs of
objects or
among at least
eight objects in
the work of art.
The response
states a
purpose of the
work of art,
explains whom
it was intended
to influence,
describes its
historical
significance,
and identifies a
political or
social issue
associated with
the work of art.
The response
describes a
purpose of the
work of art.
Score
Parameters for Portfolio Assessment 2: Analysis of a Twentieth Century Work of Art
1. The classroom teacher will chose one painting from the following list for this
assessment:



Hannah Hoch’s Cut With a Kitchen Knife, a Dada collage
Picasso’s Guernica, a painting depicting the aerial bombing of a village during the
Spanish Civil War in the mid-1930s, a Surrealistic/Cubist painting
Kathe Kollwitz, Never Again War, Killed in Action, and Infant Mortality, German
Expressionism
2. The classroom teacher will not use the assessment work of art for any lessons
presented before the assessment. The work of art must be fresh for the students when
they write this portfolio assessment. Teachers are encouraged to use other works of art
from the same time periods and styles including the two works from the above list that
the teacher does not use for the assessment as preparation for the portfolio assessment.
3. The students will be given a print of the work of art, the title, the date of the work,
and the artist’s name at the time of the assessment.
4. This portfolio entry is to be given in the classroom as individual work, but the
students may use their own binder materials developed for the course.
5. Students may write the objects they see in the work of art as a list, no sentence is
required.
6. Students must write their “Analysis” and their “Explanation of the Historical
Context” in proper sentence form. In order to earn a 2, 3, or 4, students must and
explain their reasoning using specific facts associated with the work of art.
Extension of Portfolio Entry 2: Analysis of a Twentieth Century Work of Art
Teachers are strongly encouraged to extend this assessment by having the
students evaluate the work of art by making and defending a personal judgement about
the painting. This process could be assessed using the one-paragraph essay rubric or as
a practice for an outline for the four paragraph essay.