Adventures in Art History Art Adventures    

Lesson 18: Baby Reaching for an Apple

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 'Baby Reaching for an Apple' shows a woman encouraging a child's discovery of the world. A woman gently supports a baby while pulling down a branch of an apple tree to allow the child to examine and feel the fruit.

Vocabulary

Reach: Stretch out arm to grasp something.
Branch: A part of a tree that grows out from the trunk.
Leaf: A flat, bladelike structure attacked to a stem of a plant.
Apple Tree: A tree which bears apples.

Concepts

Mary Cassatt painted 'Baby Reaching for an Apple.'

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:

• Woman
• Child
• Apple Tree
• Apple
• Leaves
• Branches

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: Draw the Painting

• Look at the branches, leaves, and apples shown in the painting.
• Draw, color, and cut out some leaves and some apples.
• Draw an apple tree branch and paste on the leaves and the apples.

Activity 5: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 24 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 3

Answer 1

A woman and a baby.

1 / 3

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 3

Answer 2

Outside next to an apple tree.

2 / 3

Question 3

What are the woman and baby doing?

3 / 3

Answer 3

They look at an apple.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? A woman and a baby.
2. What is the setting of the painting? Outside next to an apple tree.
3. What are the woman and baby doing? They look at an apple.

References

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