Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 10: Fauvism - Boats at Martigues (1908)

by Raoul Dufy

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

'Boats at Martigues' (1908) by Raoul Dufy depicts colorful, abstracted boats bobbing in a marina in the town of Martigues in southern France. Martigues is sometimes called 'The Venice of France' due to its many canals, bridges, and boats [2]. The painting is brightly colored, abstracted/simplified, and painterly, in a true fauvist manner. This painting falls into a new genre, called the marina genre.

Vocabulary

Fauvism: An avant-garde style of painting with vivid, unnatural colors, visible brushstrokes, and simplified or abstracted imagery.
Canal: An artificial waterway or artificially improved river used for travel, shipping, or irrigation.
Painterly: Having clear brush-strokes.
Marina: A sheltered expanse of water for small boats.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Fauvism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1905-1908

Movement Characteristics:

1. Bright, unnatural colors
2. Visible brushstrokes (painterly)
3. Simplified or abstracted images
4. Named by a scandalized art critic who called fauvists 'fauves' (wild beasts)
5. Note the bright colors, visible brushstrokes, and simplified imagery used in 'The Drying Sails' (1905) by André Derain as an example of fauvist characteristics

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Landscapes - 'Colorful Landscape with Water Birds' (1907) by Jean Metzinger

2. Portraits - 'Portrait of Jean Metzinger' (1906) by Robert Delaunay

3. Cityscapes - 'Charing Cross Bridge, London' (1906) by André Derain

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Boat with No Mast
• Boat with a Mast
• Visible Brush Strokes

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Find Marseille, a large city in southern France, near the artwork setting of Martigues.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the fauvism art movement.
• Find fauvism on the timeline.
• During which approximate years did fauvism flourish?
• Which art movement followed fauvism?

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 13 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is fauvism?

1 / 8

Answer 1

Fauvism is a style of painting with vivid, unnatural colors, visible brushstrokes (painterly), and simplified or abstracted imagery.

1 / 8

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 8

Answer 2

The setting is the village of Martigues in Southern France, perhaps upon a canal.

2 / 8

Question 3

What happens in the artwork?

3 / 8

Answer 3

Boats cluster together in Martigues, perhaps on a canal.

3 / 8

Question 4

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

4 / 8

Answer 4

The artwork falls into the marina genre.

4 / 8

Question 5

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

5 / 8

Answer 5

This painting belongs to the fauvism art movement.

5 / 8

Question 6

How does the artwork serve as an example of fauvism?

6 / 8

Answer 6

The painting's bright colors, visible brush strokes, and abstracted images are all characteristic of fauvism.

6 / 8

Question 7

Which genres commonly coincide with fauvism?

7 / 8

Answer 7

Landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes often coincide with fauvism.

7 / 8

Question 8

During which century was this artwork created?

8 / 8

Answer 8

This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1908).

8 / 8

❮ ❯

1. What is fauvism? Fauvism is a style of painting with vivid, unnatural colors, visible brushstrokes (painterly), and simplified or abstracted imagery.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is the village of Martigues in Southern France, perhaps upon a canal.
3. What happens in the artwork? Boats cluster together in Martigues, perhaps on a canal.
4. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork falls into the marina genre.
5. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the fauvism art movement.
6. How does the artwork serve as an example of fauvism? The painting's bright colors, visible brush strokes, and abstracted images are all characteristic of fauvism.
7. Which genres commonly coincide with fauvism? Landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes often coincide with fauvism.
8. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1908).

References

'Fauvism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Martigues.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.