How has portraiture changed over time? How has it remained the same?

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

What conversations are museums and communities having about who should be represented and why?

Why might a museum commission an artist?

How might an artist play a role in shaping public perception of a person or group of people?

Describe the person you see in the portrait. How is she posed? Describe her expression. How would you describe her hair? What is she wearing?

Why do you think there is a corsage and money pinned to her blouse? Who might have given her the flowers and the monetary gifts?

The photographer instructed Petra Alvardo not to smile. Why do you think he gave her that directive?

What do you notice about the background? Why do you think the artist intentionally left the background blank and white?

The title is Petra Alvarado, factory worker, El Paso, Texas on her birthday 4/22/82. Not only does the title tell us that it is her birthday, but it also informs us that she is a factory worker. Do you think she is ready for work? Why or why not? Why do you think the artist included her job in the title?

Who comes to mind when you hear the words “American West”? The artist, Richard Avedon, was commissioned by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art to photograph the American West, and this portrait is one of many that he created for this project. Why do you think he included this image? (Watch the video “Avedon in Texas: Selections from ‘In the American West’” to view more of Avedon’s artworks.)

Grades 4–8

Students will write a fictional story inspired by the subject in the portrait. Before writing the story, have the students spend some time brainstorming. What should readers know about the main character? What will be the setting? What events will take place? What will be the tone of the story? What descriptive words will help enrich the story?

Grades 6–12

Have students research Richard Avedon’s In the American West. What was the project? What were his results? How did critics and the public react to his version of the American West? Why did they have such reactions? If a student were to redo this project, who would they feature in the portraits?

All Levels

Activity 1
Students will draw a portrait of a classmate, friend, or family member on blank white paper. How will they pose the subject? Will they have their subject smile? What will the subject be wearing that tells a story about that person? Now have the students write a title for their portrait.

Activity 2
Have white paper taped to a wall. One student will be the photographer and the other one the subject of the portrait. The photographer will give the subject directions on how to pose, what props to include, what facial expression to hold, and, if there is access to costumes, what the subject should wear. Once the subject is in place, the photographer can take a real photograph or a pretend one depending on what is available. Then the students will reverse roles.