National Gallery of Canada
Social Realism
Examine social strife in art. Class members first observe some pieces, and then find an image to inspire their own art. They outline the picture, analyze the composition, make alterations, and color their work.
US Navy
Naval History and Heritage Command: Thomas Hart Benton Naval Art
This site provides information and examples about Thomas Hart Benton's naval art.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Social Realism
This collection uses primary sources to explore social realism in American art.
British Library
British Library: 20th Century Works: The Lonely Londoners
Read an overview of "The Lonely Londoners" by Samuel Selvon and view additional resources such as articles, collection items, and teacher resources.
Other
Columbus Museum of Art: Curator's View: Edward Hopper's "Morning Sun"
From the Curator's View series at the Columbus Museum of Art, this is the piece profile on the American social realist, modern painter, Edward Hopper's, painting "Morning Sun".
Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies: Charles White
An essay about Charles White from an issue-long portfolio of works by African-American artists published in the "Museum Studies" Journal of the Art Institute of Chicago. Includes brief biographical notes and a critic's appraisal of...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Archives of American Art: Oral History Interview With Charles White
This resource provides a transcript of an interview from 1965 with Charles Wilbert White.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Norman Rockwell
The Luce Foundation Center for American Art presents the American realist illustrator and painter Norman Rockwell. A biography, photograph portrait, and image of work on view in the collection with a map to locate it are included.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Ben Shahn
The Luce Foundation Center for American Art in the Smithsonian American Art Museum presents this short biography and photographic portrait of the Jewish-American social realist painter Ben Shahn. A link to a Shahn piece on view and where...
British Library
British Library: Discovering Literature: Romantics & Victorians the Novel
From the origins of the Gothic to depictions of the emerging middle-classes, these articles explore the key characteristics of late 18th- and early 19th-century literature.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Social Realism
The resources in this set highlight the artists, art forms, and subject matter that were central to the social realist movement.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Terms and Materials: Film
From classic paintings to contemporary works, art continues to inspire filmmakers to develop their craft, explore the power of making images, and look at the world through a different lens. Use this glossary to familiarize yourself with...
Other
West Valley Community College: Social Realism
Visit this website for a brief description of what social realism art was and to view some examples of this genre.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Robert Birmelin
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Robert Birmelin is described here along with information on his contributions to art through with work with realist social scenes and his famous paintings of New York crowd...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Frank C. Kirk
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Frank C. Kirk is described here along with information on his contributions to art through his themes of social realism.
The Guardian
Guardian: The Artist and His Mother, Arshile Gorky (C 1926)
A very brief biography of Arshile Gorky, the artist of "The Artist and His Mother", along with an analysis and description of the painting.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Social Realism: American Passages: Timeline
Trace the historical events and literary publications from the 1870s to 1920 with this timeline that accompanies the video Social Realism.
Van Gogh Gallery
The Van Gogh Gallery: Jacob Lawrence
Biographical account covers the life and career of Jacob Lawrence, African-American painter of the 20th century.
Van Gogh Gallery
The Van Gogh Gallery: Philip Evergood
This biographical account covers the life and career of Philip Evergood, 20th century American Social Realist painter.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Charles White
Photograph of artist Charles White, with the briefest of notes about his teaching and exhibiting career.