Genres of Paintings Painting Genres    

Lesson 33: Wildlife - The Little Monkey

by Franz Marc

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's genre.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

In German wildlife artist Franz Marc's expressionist painting, 'The Little Monkey,' a gray monkey sits on a branch amidst a jumble of brightly colored tropical flowers and fruits. The monkey has a white belly and a black and grey ringed tail, and looks behind him, as if he's heard something.

Vocabulary

Wildlife: Wild animals collectively; the native fauna (and sometimes flora) of a region.
Expressionist: A style of painting, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world.
Tropical: Resembling the tropics, especially in being very hot and humid with lush vegetation.

Concepts

1. Wildlife art features animals in a variety of settings.
2. Wildlife art is also sometimes called 'animal painting.'
3. Wildlife art is historically not a respected type of painting.
4. See below a rank-order list of the hierarchy of genres, from least respected to most respected.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Zoom in to find the following in the artwork:

• Red Flower
• White Flower
• Orange Fruit
• Foliage
• Ringed Tail
• Two Hands
• Nose, Eyes, and Ears
• Trunk and Branches

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Zoom in to find Germany, the home country of the artist.

Activity 4: Color Germany on the Map   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 62 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 5: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 63 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 4

Answer 1

There are no human characters, but the monkey might be considered the main character.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is outdoors in a tropical location.

2 / 4

Question 3

How do we know the setting is tropical?

3 / 4

Answer 3

We know the setting is tropical because of the lush vegetation, fruit, flowers, and the presence of a wild monkey.

3 / 4

Question 4

Into which genre is this painting classified?

4 / 4

Answer 4

This painting falls into the wildlife art (or animal painting) category.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? There are no human characters, but the monkey might be considered the main character.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outdoors in a tropical location.
3. How do we know the setting is tropical? We know the setting is tropical because of the lush vegetation, fruit, flowers, and the presence of a wild monkey.
4. Into which genre is this painting classified? This painting falls into the wildlife art (or animal painting) category.

References

'Animal Painter.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Hierarchy of genres.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.