Painters Born in the 1800s 1800s Painters    

Lesson 2: The Open Window

by Henri Matisse

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

Painted in a modernist, Fauvist style, Henri Matisse's 'The Open Window' features a view from a window. The shutters have been thrown open to reveal a surreal view of sailboats bobbing on a gentle sea. Potted flowers and creeping vines adorn the outside of the house. The sky is in shades of white, purple, and pink, and the sea is mostly white and pink. The walls inside the house are painted in vivid colors.

Vocabulary

Fauvist: A style of painting with vivid, unnatural colors.
Modernist: Breaking with tradition and experimenting with new techniques.
Surreal: Strange, like a dream.
Vivid: Brightly colored.
Shutters: A pair of hinged panels inside or outside a window that often can be opened and closed.

Concepts

1. Henri Matisse was born in 1869 in France.

2. Zoom in and find Matisse's country of birth on the map of Europe.

3. Matisse was an important figure in modern art. Modern art embraces breaking with tradition and experimenting with new techniques.
4. Matisse experimented with bright, unnatural colors in a style called Fauvism. His works shocked people at the time they were released.
5. Matisse died in 1954 at the age of 84.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

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

• Sky
• Sea
• Sailboats
• Flowers
• Pots
• Creeping Vines
• Window
• Shutters

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: Experiment with Fauvism

One day this week, draw the view outside a window in your home.

Color your picture with Fauvist, unnatural colors. For example, you might make your sun green, your grass blue, your sky purple, and your trees red.

Activity 5: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 6 of 'First Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is the setting of the painting?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The setting is inside a house with an open window.

1 / 5

Question 2

Why is the work titled 'The Open Window?'

2 / 5

Answer 2

The work is titled 'The Open Window' because the painting shows a view of the sea out of an open window.

2 / 5

Question 3

What do you see through 'The Open Window?'

3 / 5

Answer 3

We see the sky, the sea, and boats through 'The Open Window.'

3 / 5

Question 4

What kinds of plants are in the painting?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The plants in the painting include flowers and vines.

4 / 5

Question 5

Why is this painting an example of Fauvism?

5 / 5

Answer 5

This work is an example of Fauvism because the painting has colors that are bright and unnatural. For example, the sea is mostly white and pink.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. What is the setting of the painting? The setting is inside a house with an open window.
2. Why is the work titled 'The Open Window?' The work is titled 'The Open Window' because the painting shows a view of the sea out of an open window.
3. What do you see through 'The Open Window?' We see the sky, the sea, and boats through 'The Open Window.'
4. What kinds of plants are in the painting? The plants in the painting include flowers and vines.
5. Why is this painting an example of Fauvism? This work is an example of Fauvism because the painting has colors that are bright and unnatural. For example, the sea is mostly white and pink.

References

'Henri Matisse.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Open Window.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.