<p>Explore identity, art, and biography through the lens of black women in portraiture. Portraiture can help us understand contributions of Black women in the history of art and design, science, education, politics, and beyond. Using the elements of portrayal—visual clues found in our portraits—to analyze various portraits for deeper meaning, and share joy through the celebration of Black women in art.</p>

<p>The guiding questions of this Learning Lab are</p> <ul><li>What is visual art’s connection to historical events? Why is it important that we recognize these connections?</li></ul><ul><li>What does studying art add to our understanding of historical events and time periods?</li></ul><p>The goals of this Learning Lab are</p> <ul><li>Bridge the gap in understanding between art analysis and historical analysis</li><li>Explore the inherent ties between art pieces and their surrounding historical context</li><li>Introduce the foundations of formal art analysis and develop close looking skills for visual art pieces</li></ul><p>If you are new to Learning Lab, visit <a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/help/getting-started">https://learninglab.si.edu/help/getting-started</a> to learn how to get started!</p> <p></p><p>#NPGTeach</p><br /><p></p> <p>Special thanks to National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), the National Museum of American History (NMAH), Smithsonian Folkways, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) for inspiring this learning lab and for their resources.</p> <p>Keywords: Portraiture, African American, American, Selma, Alabama, visual art, Civil Rights Movement, United States, visual literacy</p> <p></p>

<p>What happens when we shift the focus from “heroes” and historical figures to everyday people? What are the implications for ourselves, our communities, our future? This collection, a collaboration between the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and the National Portrait Gallery explores objects and art to learn and understand the powerful stories that exist all around us.</p>