Field Trip
to the
Art Institute of Chicago
In April 2009, the 3rd grade students of Room 208 in Central School, Wilmette, Illinois went to the Art Institute of Chicago. At the museum, the students had the opportunity to view over 30 paintings created during the life of Abraham Lincoln. Most of the paintings were from the Hudson River School style. The paintings done in oil on canvas represent the romantic, realistic expression of nature that was the center of the Hudson River School.

Upon a reflective class discussion of the paintings, the student decided that Abraham Lincoln would most like Mountain Brook, 1863 by Albert Bierstadt.

While at the Art Institute, the students also viewed paintings done by artists from their biography unit. Each student focused on a particular artist. The students then thought about that artist in relation to Lincoln. If Lincoln went to the art museum, what would he think of the paintings by ...

Cassatt by Pia D. Cassatt by Zara B.
Cezanne by Anson S. Degas by Mia S.
Delacroix by Max R. El Greco by Scott G.
Guaguin by John W. Homer by Carter S.
Hopper by Hutch G. Lawrence by Cassidy C.
Monet by Jacob D. Monet by Ethan W.
O'Keeffe by Nate M. Pissarro by Erik S.
Remington by Carynn R. Renoir by Will T.
Seurat by Lolly V. Toulouse-Lautrec by Katie B.
Whistler by Grace R. Van Gogh by Marc B.
Van Gogh by Morgan F.  

The students selected Mountain Brook because of the bright, happy sunlight shown shining through the trees. Lincoln’s life was rough so the students felt that a cheerful, peaceful painting would be perfect for Lincoln. The forest in the painting is shown as calm and “not scary” which would be appealing to Lincoln. The forest also would remind Lincoln of his childhood. The students felt that the gentle waterfall would be calming. The bird, in the gold light, would be a symbol of peacefulness to Lincoln.