Adventures in Art History Art Adventures    

Lesson 13: Little Girl in a Blue Armchair

by Mary Cassatt

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Mary Cassatt's 'Little Girl in a Blue Armchair' shows a little girl wearing a frilly dress in a blue armchair. Her hair is elaborately arranged and curled. Her slouched posture, scrunched up dress, and bored expression contrast with her fancy hair and fussy dress. A small Brussels Griffon dog curls up in a chair next to her. The visible brush strokes of color reveal the impressionistic nature of the work.

Vocabulary

Impressionist: An art style featuring thin, visible brush strokes of color.
Armchair: A comfortable chair, typically upholstered, with side supports for a person's arms.
Frilly: Adorned with decorative edging.
Slouch: Stand or sit in a drooping way.

Concepts

Mary Cassatt painted 'Little Girl in a Blue Armchair.'

1. Mary Cassatt was born in 1844 in Pennsylvania. See her self-portrait below.

2. Find Cassatt's state of birth (PA) on the map of the continental United States below.

3. As an adult, Mary Cassatt spent much of her time in France. Find France on the map of Europe below.

4. Cassatt captured moments in the lives of ordinary women and children, often featuring the bond between mother and child.
5. She painted in a style called 'Impressionism.' Impressionism originated in France in the 19th century.
6. Rather than rendering detailed, precise images, impressionists used visible brush strokes of different colors to create a gauzy 'impression' of scenes from everyday life.
7. Cassatt died in 1926 at the age of 82 in Paris, France.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Little Girl
• Dog
• Chairs
• Couch
• Windows
• Lace
• Socks
• Shoes
• Bow
• Skirt
• Frills
• Visible brush strokes (impressionistic nature of the work)

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

• After studying the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Artist   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 18 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 5: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 19 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The little girl and her dog.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 5

Answer 2

Inside a living room or sitting room.

2 / 5

Question 3

What is the little girl doing?

3 / 5

Answer 3

She slouches on a chair.

3 / 5

Question 4

What does the furniture look like?

4 / 5

Answer 4

It is covered in blue fabric with a floral design.

4 / 5

Question 5

What expression is on the little girl's face?

5 / 5

Answer 5

She is not smiling. She looks tired or perhaps exasperated at having to wear a fancy dress instead of having fun playing.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? The little girl and her dog.
2. What is the setting of the painting? Inside a living room or sitting room.
3. What is the little girl doing? She slouches on a chair.
4. What does the furniture look like? It is covered in blue fabric with a floral design.
5. What expression is on the little girl's face? She is not smiling. She looks tired or perhaps exasperated at having to wear a fancy dress instead of having fun playing.

References

'Mary Cassatt.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.