Visual Culture Database Form ARTE 344/544 Fall 2023

Provider: Lauren Anhalt

VCDB #:
1
Big Idea/Subject:
Community
Major Theme:
Empowerment
Medium/ Size:
Acrylic on canvas, 41 x 31
inches
Visual Components:
Repetition, Contrast, Texture,
Variety, Form, Proportion
Category:
Fine Arts

Authorship: Faith Ringgold

Title of work: Working Women
Location of work: https://www.faithringgold.com/
Description: The image shows a quilt featuring bold geometric patterns, which
surround a painted illustration of women and children in what appears
to be New York City.
Interpretation: This quilt is meant to represent women living their lives in what is
usually considered a male-dominated city. The figures span across
every age, race, occupation, yet get along with a sense of harmony and
understanding, and look out for each other. The piece shows that
women can be anything and live their lives peacefully together.
Use in Teaching(Lesson A lesson that may include this image might be having students use this
Idea and medium) piece as an inspiration for a project that depicts a minority or
marginalized group becoming the majority in a situation or time
period where they would/have not been. I would encourage students
to depict any changes this hypothetical world would have emotionally,
financially, or socioeconomically on it’s citizens.
3-5 Guiding Questions: - Why might the artist have decided to use a quilt to present this
piece?
- Do you think that the “family portrait” format of the painting
may be intentional, such as seen in Ringgold’s other works, why
 or why not?
- What do you think the two figures who have their backs
turned represent, if they represent anything?
- What do you think the pieces of fabric that surround the
painting mean? Do they have to be as meaningful as the
painting itself?
Image Source (url): https://www.faithringgold.com/portfolio/working-women/