Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 33: Post-Impressionism - The Painter of Sunflowers (1888)

by Paul Gauguin

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

The final four lessons of this course address Post-Impressionism, which originated in France in the 1880s and spanned the time between Impressionism and Fauvism. The Post-Impressionists continued to use visible brushstrokes, thick layers of paint, and real-life subject matter. However, unlike the Impressionists, Post-Impressionists used unusual colors, incorporated well-defined geometric forms, and often painted in studios rather than outdoors. Paul Gauguin's 1888 Post-Impressionist painting, 'The Painter of Sunflowers,' shows fellow artist Vincent van Gogh holding a palette and creating one of his famous sunflower paintings. At the urging of Van Gogh, Gauguin traveled to Arles, France to start an art colony. During his time in Arles, Gauguin created this painting. Unfortunately, also during this time, Van Gogh's ear was sliced off. Van Gogh is reputed to have cut off his own ear, although some historians believe he lied to protect Gauguin. Gauguin may have sliced off Van Gogh's ear with a sword during an argument. Unsurprisingly, the planned art colony never came to fruition and Gauguin left Arles after only two months.

Vocabulary

Post-Impressionism: A genre of painting that rejected the naturalism of impressionism, using color and form in more expressive manners.
Fauvism: An artistic movement of the last part of the 19th century which emphasized spontaneity and the use of extremely bright colors.
Palette: A thin board on which a painter lays and mixes colors.
Art Colony: A place where artists live together, interact together, and create artwork.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Post-Impressionism
2. Timeline - approximately 1880s-1905

Post-Impressionism Characteristics and Subjects:

1. More Paintings in Studios ('Still Life with Three Puppies' by Paul Gauguin in 1888)

2. Vivid, Sometimes Unnatural Use of Color ('Yellow Christ' by Paul Gauguin in 1889)

3. Defined Geometric Forms ('Bedroom in Arles' by Vincent van Gogh in 1888)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Vincent van Gogh
• Palette
• Someone Soon to Lose His Ear
• Sunflowers
• Something to be a Painting of Sunflowers

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 Post-Impressionist art movement.
• Find Post-Impressionism on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did Post-Impressionism flourish?
• Which art movement preceded Post-Impressionism?

Activity 4: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 36 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The only character is Vincent van Gogh.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is an artist's studio in Arles, France.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Post-Impressionist art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this painting reflective of Post-Impressionism?

4 / 5

Answer 4

This work was painted in a studio and uses defined forms and vivid colors.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Gauguin painted this artwork in the 19th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The only character is Vincent van Gogh.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is an artist's studio in Arles, France.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Post-Impressionist art movement.
4. How is this painting reflective of Post-Impressionism? This work was painted in a studio and uses defined forms and vivid colors.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Gauguin painted this artwork in the 19th century.

References

'The Painter of Sunflowers.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Post-Impressionism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.