Framing America

Written by Frances K. Pohl and published by Thames & Hudson, Framing America: A Social History of American Art, 5th Edition provides art history students and educators with an academic textbook examining how social conditions shape artistic production. The volume establishes a contextual framework that connects visual media with broader historical, economic, and political movements across the nation.

The content spans from prehistory to the present day, organizing historical developments around key cultural interactions across North America. Core thematic coverage emphasizes the creative output and artistic influence of Native Americans, African Americans, and immigrant groups, while evaluating how working-class culture intersects with visual arts traditions.

This 644-page 2024 publication offers academic courses a structured social analysis of North American art history. It offers educators a dedicated resource for presenting artistic movements within their specific historical, social, and political contexts.