What is the purpose of a photograph?

How might the materials used by an artist affect the mood of the artwork?

How might a fine art photograph differ from a snapshot?

What kinds of relationships can exist between artist and subject, and how might those relationships impact the work of art?

How has the role of women in the arts changed over time?

What do you see in the center of the photograph? What is the subject wearing? How is the subject posed?

What do you see around the subject? Why do you think the photographer has the subject standing in a doorway?

What is the source of light for this photograph? Where is the light showing or reflecting? Why do you think the photographer chose to have the subject lit from behind?

Where is the photographer located? Where is she in relation to the subject?

What parts of the photograph are the most focused? The least focused?

The artist experimented with different materials while creating her photographs. This photograph was printed on tissue. Why do you think she might have selected tissue? What impact do you think tissue might have had on the overall photograph?

How would you describe the overall mood of the photograph? What choices did the artist make to create that mood?

How is this photograph different from photographs you have seen or might have taken?

Grades Pre-K–3

Have the students fold a piece of plain paper in half. On the front of the folded paper, they will draw and design their door. Then they will “open” the door and on the inside of the folded paper they will draw who is coming through their doorway and what can be seen outside of the doorway.

Grades 4–8

Explain to the students that Clara Sipprell, like other artists, found inspiration for her art while traveling. Have the students think about a city, region, state, or country they would like to visit and then have them create a presentation that features visuals and information about that place. What would they see? Who might they meet? What would they photograph?

Grades 6–12

Have students research online photographs by Clara Sipprell and other pictorialists. Then, while thinking about light, focus, composition, materials, and mood, the students will create photographs in a pictorial style.