Abstract

This thesis is rooted in a personal desire to understand the history of the author's hometown and the history of her chosen profession. It is an examination of two decades of art education, 1940 to 1960, with a particular focus on the author's hometown of State College, Pennsylvania where Viktor Lowenfeld established and headed the art education department. This thesis investigates the life and ideas of Lowenfeld and Dr. Edward Mattil, Lowenfeld's former student, colleague and friend, in context of the social, political and educational realities in which their work was situated. The research in this study is conducted through conversations with Mattil and involved thorough consultation of archival materials as well as a range of literature from and about this particular period of history. The thesis demonstrates that factors such as politics, war, social and cultural issues, religion and technology greatly impacted the concepts and ideas that Viktor Lowenfeld held and taught.