Other Objects to Try
You may wish to try the SIFT exercise with other VMFA artworks. What do you think of these?
Interactive Exercise | SIFT Dismal Swamp Canal
Why look at art? Art is one way humans communicate ideas to one another. Sifting through the information art presents takes careful and purposeful looking. With this interactive exercise, students can practice connecting to art as intentional inquirers.
At your own pace, click through the slides below to activate your creative thinking as you interpret a complex landscape painting made in the United States in 1830. You may wish to click on the “full screen” icon for the best view.
You may wish to try the SIFT exercise with other VMFA artworks. What do you think of these?
Graphic organizer
You may wish to download and print this graphic organizer to document your ideas!
Related Collections Content
Dismal Swamp Canal (Primary Title)
Robert Salmon, British (active in the United States), ca. 1775 - ca. 1851 (Artist)
