Steps to Writing Well Museum Activities:
Project Title:
Understanding an Artist: Mary Cassat
Museum:
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Link:
http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/ggcassattptg/ggcassattptgmain1.html
This link takes you to the the National Gallery of Art. The National Gallery is located in
Washington D.C. and houses one of the largest art collections in the United States. Take
the online tour: “Mary Cassat—Selected Paintings.” The tour will provide you with
textual information about both Cassat and each of her featured paintings. You can click
on the image to view an enlarged version, or, click on the heading that says “Full Screen
Image” below the painting’s description. After taking the tour, answer the questions
below.
1. Choose three of the paintings and write down your personal response to each
piece. Answer each of these questions in your response: 1) How does each piece
make you feel? 2) Do the three paintings you have chosen invoke similar
responses? 3) Why or why not?
2. List the attributes of the form of the three paintings you have chosen. What is the
point of view of each painting? What colors does Cassat use? Does she seem to
use the same colors? What about her style? How does it remain consistent and
how does it change? Finally, within in your list clearly indicate the subject matter
of each painting. Who or what is Cassat most interested in painting?
3. Write an essay in which you compare and contrast the three paintings that you
have chosen. What do these three paintings and the information included on the
tour tell you about Cassat as an artist?