Examined are 13 common themes in American painting: mother and child; modes of transportation; the clown; the city; sports; the crucifixion; interiors; natural disasters; wars and aftermath; social protest and injustice; still life; self-portraits; and music. The work of many artists (Ben Shahn, Frederick Remington, Arthur G. Dove, Jacob Lawrence and many others) are used to illustrate common styles. The themes and artists were chosen to represent...