Prairie Pulse: The Art of George Catlin
During the time of President Thomas Jefferson and Lewis and Clark there were no cameras or photographs. All of the visual history that we have from that era is from paintings and artifacts. George Catlin traveled up the Mississippi River on several occasions painting the native tribes that he met. Later he traveled up the Missouri. About 1,100 painting and sketches of Catlin’s survive today and help provide a visual record of the customs and history of native peoples prior to white settlement of the American West.
Source
Prairie Pulse, Prairie Public Television. Matt Olien (Producer)
Grade Level
2-5
Subject Matter
Social Studies, Science, Arts- Visual
Standards
Know how different visual art media*, techniques*, and processes* are used to
communicate ideas, experience, and stories.
Know how expressive images cause different responses and communicate
ideas.
Understand how a variety of subjects, themes, symbols and ideas* are
incorporated in a selection of works of art.
Know that visual art has both a history and specific relationship to various
cultures.
Understand how different visual art media*, techniques*, and processes* are
used to communicate ideas, experience, and stories.
Understand the characteristics of works of art in various eras and cultures.
Understand multiple purposes for creating works of art.
Understand how the visual structures* and functions accomplish personal,
commercial, societal, or other art intentions.
Understand works of art among a variety of historical and cultural contexts* in
terms of characteristics, functions, and purposes of visual art.
Understand relationships among works of art in terms of history, aesthetics, and
culture.
Understand the possible intentions of those creating works of art.
Understand how specific works of art are created and how they relate to
historical and cultural contexts*.
Identify various things that are found in different environments (e.g., cactus, lizard – desert; shark, coral- ocean)
Explain ways humans benefit from Earth’s resources (e.g., air, water, soil, food, fuel, building materials)
Describe the exchange of ideas, culture, and goods between the Native Americans and the white settlers (e.g., the Pilgrims, Wampanoag, explorers)
Identify the contributions of prominent individuals (e.g., Teddy Roosevelt, La Verendrye, Rough Rider Award winners) to North Dakota
Identify the location and characteristics of significant features of North Dakota (e.g., landforms, river systems, climate, regions, major cities)
Explain the significance of scientists, inventors, and historical figures (e.g., Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce De Leon, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Paul Revere, Benjamin Rush, David Rittenhouse, Thomas Paine)