Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 28: Realism - Woman Reading (1894)

by Henri Matisse

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 movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Henri Matisse's 1894 painting "Woman Reading" provides the final example of Realism. A woman in a black gown faces away from the viewer, relaxes in a wooden chair, and reads a book. Her long brown hair is pulled up, secured by a black bow above the nape her neck. The room is in mild disarray, the wooden cabinet slightly opened and covered in a panoply of items. The cloth covering the dresser is askew, and a canvas rests on the floor. Paintings and a gas lamp add to the chaos of the room. The woman takes no mind of her cluttered reality, immersed in her own private world within the book. This work captures a calm, everyday moment common to many lives.

Vocabulary

Nape: The back part of the neck.
Oil Lamp: A simple vessel used to produce light continuously for a period of time from a liquid fuel source.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Realism
2. Timeline - approximately 1830-1900

Realism Characteristics and Subjects:

1. Everyday Life ('The Chess Players' by Honoré Daumier in 1863)

2. People from All Walks of Life ('The Gleaners' by Jean-François Millet in 1857)

3. Hardship ('Visit to the Poor' by Vladimir Makovsky in 1874)

4. Encroachment of Industrialization on Nature ('Pariser Vorstadt' by Jean-François Raffaëlli circa 1880/1890)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Nape
• Clutter
• Someone Transported
• Green Vase
• Something That can be Lit
• Something Resting on the Floor
• Something Open
• Something Askew

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Realist art movement.
• Find Realism on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did Realism flourish?
• Which art movement preceded Realism?
• Which art movement followed Realism?

Activity 4: Recreate the Artwork   

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

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The only character we see in the woman, but the viewer can imagine the woman's head is probably filled with the characters from her book as well.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is indoors, perhaps in the woman's home.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Realist art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this painting reflective of Realism?

4 / 5

Answer 4

Realism portrays regular people in everyday situations, such as simply sitting and reading a book.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Matisse painted this artwork near the end of the 19th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The only character we see in the woman, but the viewer can imagine the woman's head is probably filled with the characters from her book as well.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is indoors, perhaps in the woman's home.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Realist art movement.
4. How is this painting reflective of Realism? Realism portrays regular people in everyday situations, such as simply sitting and reading a book.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Matisse painted this artwork near the end of the 19th century.

References

'Woman Reading.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Realism (art movement).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Realism (arts).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.