Adventures in Art History Art Adventures    

Lesson 24: Memory of the Garden at Etten

by Vincent van Gogh

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

Vincent van Gogh's 'Memory of the Garden at Etten (Ladies of Arles)' depicts his mother and sister walking through a flower garden in his childhood town of Etten-Leur, Netherlands. His mother wears a blue and red checked shawl, and his sister wears a green and orange checked shawl and carries a red parasol. Another woman tends the flowers in the background. Further back are round flower beds.

Vocabulary

Garden: An outdoor area containing one or more types of plants, usually plants grown for food or ornamental purposes.
Shawl: A piece of fabric worn by women over the shoulders or head.
Parasol: A light umbrella used to give shade from the sun.
Tend: To care for.
Flower Bed: A garden plot in which flowers are grown.

Concepts

Vincent van Gogh painted 'Memory of the Garden at Etten (Ladies of Arles).'

1. Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands. See his picture below.

2. Find Van Gogh's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. Van Gogh mostly taught himself how to paint. Van Gogh stated, 'Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see.'
4. Although he is famous now and his works are worth millions of dollars, he was poor and unknown while alive. Van Gogh had a tough time in life. He suffered from mental illness and spent time in an asylum.
5. Van Gogh is reputed to have cut off his own ear, although some historians now believe he might have lied to protect his friend and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin, who may have cut Van Gogh's ear off with a sword during an argument.
6. Van Gogh died in 1890 at the age of 37 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

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

• Flowers
• Shawls
• Parasol
• Trees
• Paths
• Flower Beds
• Bushes

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 Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 31 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is the setting of the painting?

1 / 3

Answer 1

Outside in a garden.

1 / 3

Question 2

What types of plants to you see in the painting?

2 / 3

Answer 2

Flowers, bushes, trees.

2 / 3

Question 3

Which of Van Gogh's relatives are in the painting?

3 / 3

Answer 3

His mother and sister.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What is the setting of the painting? Outside in a garden.
2. What types of plants to you see in the painting? Flowers, bushes, trees.
3. Which of Van Gogh's relatives are in the painting? His mother and sister.

References

'Vincent van Gogh.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.