• About the Work of Art

• About the Artist
   

  
  

Looking and Discussing
Grade: 4–5; 6–8
Subject: Visual Art, Language Arts, Social Studies

Impressions of The Medicine Man

Take time to look at Charles Russell’s painting The Medicine Man. Record your initial impressions of this work by answering the question below:

• What does the artist communicate to you through this painting? Look closely at the details. Describe clothing, adornment, people and animals, what people carry, time of day and season of the year, other details.

Man versus Nature

Compare Oregon City on the Willamette River with The Medicine Man.

• How does each artist depict the concept of “man versus nature”?

• Why do you think Russell called the white man “nature's enemy”?

See Student Activity: Compare and Contrast

Compare Russell’s Medicine Man to Remington’s Cheyenne. What observations can you make about the differences and similarities between the artists’ respective portrayals of culture in the American West?

Writing
Grade: 4–5; 6–8
Subject: Language Arts, Social Studies

Travels by Travois

Imagine if you had to move a long distance using a travois. Think about how you would transport all your belongings on a travois behind a horse. Make a list of the items you would take and those you would leave behind; include your reasons why.

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