Week 3: Art History Lesson

Art History Lesson

Enduring Idea: Identity

Rationale: Students will explore ideas of identity as a compilation of different traits, some that are unique, and some that are caused by outside influences.

Artists/Artworks: Rembrandt, Monet, Matisse, DaVinci, Mondrian, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Banksy, Chuck Close, Gursky, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Goldsworthy, Ellsworth Kelly, Cy Twombly, and others.

Key Concepts: History, criticism, aesthetics

Essential Questions:

     How have contemporary artworks been influenced by the works of the old masters?

     What are the similarities between your two artworks? Differences?

     How is your artwork response for this assignment affected by the other two you chose?

Objectives:

Lesson: We will introduce art history and criticism by projecting or pinning up two artworks from different time periods and discussing them in class.

Activities:

     Students will choose two artworks, one contemporary and one from a different period, from a list.

     They will discover the histories of both artworks and record them in their sketchbooks.

     They will practice art criticism by describing, interpreting, and judging, and comparing both artworks by writing their findings in their sketchbooks.

     They will make a final art piece as a response to their two chosen artworks. On the critique day, students will present their piece along with the two others and describe how they responded to them.

Formative Assessment:

     Students have written the histories of the two artworks they chose in their sketchbooks.

     Students have written a criticism of the two artworks in their sketchbooks.

     Their final artwork draws from elements found in the two artworks they chose.

     Their artwork was completed on time for the final critique.

          If a student misses the critique, they must write a couple paragraphs about their art piece and how it was influenced by the two artworks they chose.