Africa is a continent with myriad forms of artistic expression and a centuries-long history of global interaction and exchange. Like many other parts of the globe, imperialism and colonialism left an indelible mark on Africa, and this imprint can be found on numerous artworks made by cultures across the continent. In this session, students will carefully and thoughtfully examine artworks from Sub-saharan Africa to open lines of inquiry about this legacy and consider the ideas and aesthetics of their originating cultures. ...

Spending time to look carefully at the expressions, body language, and contextual clues presented in figural works of art can help students consider ideas about identity and community. In this session, students are invited to look thoughtfully and carefully at works of art produced at the beginning of the United State’s nationhood. They are able to hone historical, critical, and creative thinking skills as they unpack the complex ideas these objects present about the civic, social, and cultural landscape of the new Republic. ...

As the United States entered the 20th Century, its changing population experienced the era through many lenses. Industrialization, war, racial disparity, immigration, and migration gave rise to a diversity of perspectives on American life that was captured in the art of the era. In this session, students are invited to examine examples of this work and think creatively and critically about the ideas each presents. They may hone their historical thinking skills while expanding their understanding of the United States during the first half of the 20th Century. ...

Artwork that depicts the landscape can offer insight into how humans think about their relationship with the Earth. As habitation of the United States has shifted and expanded, American artists have chronicled human interaction with and attitudes toward the natural world. In this session, students will spend time carefully and thoughtfully examining examples of 19th and 20th Century landscape art to expand their understanding of the United States history. ...

As a thread in the fabric of a particular moment in history, art can evidence crucial societal shifts. Artwork produced between World War I and II offers clues to the social, political, and economic landscape of Europe between the wars. In this session, students closely examine and interpret artwork by French and German artists, opening lines of inquiry into the ideas of each creator and their intended audience. ...

Carefully examining the attributes of any artwork can spark curiosity about the motivation and inspiration behind its creation, opening a window into the ideas of the object’s maker and intended audience. In this session, students carefully examine the expressions, body language, and contextual clues in Romantic Era figural art to expand their understanding of the social and cultural landscape of late 18th and early 19th century Europe. ...

During three centuries of rule (1526-1858), the Mughal Empire established a lasting artistic legacy in India which evidences a synthesis of Islamic, Hindu, and European cultures. In this session, students closely examine examples of painting and architecture to open lines of inquiry about the cultural contributions of Mughal leaders such as Akbar and Shah Jahan. ...

Art is often about making ideas and beliefs visible. For centuries, religions across the globe have used images to represent complex and abstract ideas about humankind's place in the cosmos. In this session, students examine early Buddhist and Hindu sculpture to open lines of inquiry about the cultural landscape of India and consider how art can communicate sacred and profound ideas. ...