Discussion Questions
After the Alcatraz Swim #1
Joan Brown
May 2017
Joan Brown, After the Alcatraz Swim #1, 1975; promised gift of Maryellen and Frank Herringer; © Estate of Joan Brown
- Look at this painting for a while. What do you notice first? Why do you think you noticed what you did?
- What do you think is the most important part of this painting? What do you see that makes you think that?
- What’s going on in the small painting within this large painting? What do you see that makes you say that?
- This is a self-portrait of Joan Brown, the artist, who was a swimmer. The title of this work is After the Alcatraz Swim. How does knowing the title change the way you look at or understand this work?
- If you were going to paint a picture of yourself that showed your hobby or favorite activity, what would it look like?
