Art History: Travel              Through Time

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[INTRO] [MISSION] [PROCESS] [EXAMPLES] [EVALUATION] [CONCLUSION]

INTRODUCTION [TOP OF PAGE]

Middle school students can explore aspects of art history through many art movements that have occurred over time. They will discover facts about artists and the meanings of their pieces as well as the process behind their works. The students will be learning about key artists of the time and be given examples that will help them in their exploration for more information about the artists and their works.

MISSION [TOP OF PAGE]

For each of the following movements, define the movement, find a painting, and research the meaning or the process used to create the painting. Write a summary paragraph about the artist's life.

[Neoclassicism]
[Romanticism]
[Pointillism]
[Symbolism]
[Expressionism] 
[Surrealism]
[Abstract]
[Fantasy]

Before beginning the project print off the worksheet that will be filled out and turned in.

PROCESS [TOP OF PAGE]

Schedule is subject to change

FINAL PRESENTATION MAY 1st

1.) For each art movement, print out a copy of the worksheet. Fill out the worksheet in Microsoft Word and print off a final copy to turn in.

2.) Read the examples given below to see what is expected.

3.) You will then:

A. Research the time period

I. When did the movement begin/end.

II. Define the movment. What was it all about? How was it described?

B. Find a work of art from the era that intrests you. Use any resources that you would like.

*Internet

*Books

*Museums

I. Print off a copy of the chosen piece of art.

C. Research your piece of art

I. How was it created?

II. What was the artist trying to convey?

III. Does it depict any historical event of influence by the time period? If so.. In what way?

IV. Why did you choose it? Did you like or dislike it? Why?

D. Research the artist of your artwork.

I. Who was this man/woman?

II. When were they born? Where were they from? When did they die?

III. What was their life like?

IV. What were they known for?

E. At the end of the year, you will be choosing your favorite work of art and artist and sharing your knowledge about the subject. This will be done through a formal presentation which must be at least three minutes in length.

EXTRA CREDIT*****

1. Make your final presentation on Power Point

Have fun playing in Power Point Picture Maker. *Print off Power Point presentation for extra credit.

EXAMPLES [TOP OF PAGE]

Neoclassicism
Romanticism
Pointillism - DEFINITION - The theory or practice in the art applying small strokes or dots of color on a surface so that from a distance they blend together. TIME PERIOD - about the 1880's - ABOUT THE MOVEMENT - Pointillism artists such as Seurat did not work as other artists. Instead of working with objects in their composition individually they began at one corner of the canvas and slowly and painstakingly worked their way outward from this single point. They approached the work as a whole rather than a grouping of many individual objects. Seurat spent more than a year on this painting, making many primary studies before tackling the final version. Each dot is placed with meticulous precession. This detail creates a beautiful composition of color and harmony of lines. - ABOUT THE ARTIST - George Seurat (1859 - 1891) was known for using tiny brushstrokes of casting colors. He spent his life studying color theories.

view painting

Symbolism - DEFINITION - an object or act repressing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed. TIME PERIOD - about the 1880's - 1890's. ABOUT THE MOVEMENT - This composition was promoted by the air raids in Guernica in Northern Spain by the German Lufwaffe in 1937. Hundreds of civilians were killed. The painting expresses the tragedy and chaos of the event. It explores the horror of war and gives an erie foreshadowing of the suffering to come with W.W.II. Picasso used many layers to create this piece. The symbolism and hidden imagery has puzzled scholars for many years. Picasso refused to divulge the secret hidden within this painting because of this it is often called Picasso's "secret" Guernica. ABOUT THE ARTIST - Pablo picasso (1881 - 1973) A rebel from a young age, refused to explain the real meaning of his paintings. He later turned to sculptures and pottery.

view painting

Expressionism - DEFINITION - a theory of practice in the art of seeking to depict the subjective emotion and responses that objects and events arouse in the artist. TIME PERIOD - about 1905 - 1925. ABOUT THE MOVEMENT - Starry Night is one of Van Gough's most famous paintings because of it's unique style. He painted it from memory while in an asylum at Saint-Remy. He was going through a very difficult period and had very erratic behavior at this time. Van Gough would not discuss this work in any detail for reasons known only to him. Many have speculated about the meaning. ABOUT THE ARTIST Vincent Van Gough-(1853-1890) He was born in Groof Zundert. He was a famous expressionistic artist. He lived with a life of psychological problems and depression. He had a brother named Theo who he lived with when he was in Paris. In the end he committed suicide.

view painting

Surrealism - DEFINITION - movement that began in France that explored the unconscious, often using images from dreams. It used spontaneous techniques and featured unexpected juxtaposition of objects. TIME PERIOD - about the 1920's and 1930's.   ABOUT THE MOVEMENT - This painting has been describes as "a paranoid dream", where time and space are distorted in a frighteningly convincing way. Dali played with the idea of hard vs. soft and the physical world vs. time. Shadows, visual clarity, and minaturism are all used as told to create this image. ABOUT THE ARTIST - Salvador Dali (1904-1989) He was known as the greatest surrealist artist because of his bizarre dream imagery.

view painting

Abstract

Fantasy

EVALUATION [TOP OF PAGE]

       grading rubric for completed worksheet
        Art History Quiz

CONCLUSION [TOP OF PAGE]

        art word. find
     create your own masterpiece
      

        Mediography:
         http://www.artcylopedia.com/artist/dali_salvador.html
         http://www.artchive.com/artchive/P/Picasso.html
         http://www.english.uga.edu/~232/voc/neoclassicism.voc.html
         http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary.book
         http://www.mcs.cushayward.edu/~malek/Braque.html
         http://www.peak.org/~dadaist/English/Graphics/duchamp.html
         http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/david
         http://www.european paintings.com/19thcent/girodnor.html
         http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/whistler
         http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/seurat
         http://www.ask.elibrary.com
         http://www.gifs.net/animate/feet.gif
         http://www.allposters.com 
         

        Resources:
         Janson, Anthony F. & H. W. Janson History of Art. Harry N. Abrams; INC. New York. 2001

       Related Links:

            http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHLinks.html

     Suggested Books:

          
        History of Art By: Anthony Janson & H. W. Janson
      (in the search box type art history and select books)

           
          History of Art For Young People  By: Anthony Janson & H. W. Janson
        (in the search area type art history and select books)

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