START WITH ART: Three Flags

Good morning! We begin each day by examining a piece of art from history. Today’s artwork is pictured below. Take a look, then read the questions to the students/children in your life and watch how starting the day with art can ignite creativity and critical thinking!

Title: Three Flags

Artist: Jasper Johns

Date: 1958

Medium: Encaustic on canvas

Dimensions: 77.8 × 115.6 × 11.7 cm

Start with Art Questions:

• How do you think the artist’s technique of layering the three flags, each smaller than the one below it, changes how you look at the American flag?

• What do you notice about the texture on the flags? How might the thick, waxy strokes make the surface feel different from a regular painting?

• If you could create a similar artwork using a symbol or object you see every day, what would you choose, and how would you make people look at it in a new way?

Add our START WITH ART calendar to yours by clicking here then click "add." Share how you're folding this into your daily routine by tagging us on Instagram @pageofarthistory and/or the tag #startwithart 🖼️