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Jacob Lawrence: Storyteller
Curriculum unit developed by the J. Paul Getty Trust

Lesson 3: Self-portraits: Telling Stories about Ourselves

Activity 1: What is a Self-portrait?

Overview:
Students learn about self-portraits. They analyze Jacob Lawrence's self-portraits that reveal information about his life.

Artists tell stories in different ways. They might create a series of images, as in the Migration or Harriet Tubman series by Jacob Lawrence. They might also tell a story with only one image. In this lesson, students will see how the artist, Jacob Lawrence, tells a story about himself in a single picture, called a self-portrait.

Discuss and lead the students in discovering the following about Lawrence's self-portraits. Have them first work in small groups for this activity and then share their findings with the whole class. These questions can be used to guide the students' inquiry:
  • What seems to be the most important feature in each image?
  • What "story" does the artist tell in each image?
  • What do you think the artist wants his viewers to know about the main character in the image? Why do you think this? What clues in the artwork support your ideas?
  • What moods or feelings does the artist suggest? How does he use color, line, and gesture to suggest these moods or feelings?
  • How has the artist used exaggeration in his self-portraits? Why do you think he used exaggeration?
  • Of the three artworks, which do you think tells you most about the artist? Why do you think this? (One of the images, Self-Portrait, 1965, shows only the artist's face, while the other two show the artist surrounded by other objects. In Self-Portrait, 1977, and The Studio, 1977, the artist includes some of his paintings, his art supplies, and other tools used in carpentry).
  • Which one is your favorite? Why?
  • Have students create a classroom chart "What is a Self-portrait?" They should list the characteristics of self-portraits and add to the list as appropriate.
  • Must a self-portrait show a realistic view of the person? Why or why not?
  • What are the advantages of including objects in a self-portrait?
  • What are the disadvantages?



Intro | Table of Contents | Timeline | Image Archive | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3


© J. Paul Getty Trust