Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 11: Fauvism - The Goldfish (1912)

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

The French artist Henri Matisse painted the next fauvist painting, 'The Goldfish,' in 1912. Goldfish float in the placid water within in a clear fishbowl sitting atop a table. Potted plants, flowers, and perhaps a wicker chair surround the goldfish. Note the goldfish can be seen from two viewpoints at once - once in greater detail from the side and once again abstracted from the top. Note also how the tabletop seems slanted toward the viewer, as if the fishbowl and potted plants could slide off at any moment. Imagine sitting down and relaxing, inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers and watching the gills, fins, and tails of the goldfish quiver. Like the previous fauvist works, the painting is brightly colored, abstracted/simplified, and painterly.

Vocabulary

Fauvism: An avant-garde style of painting with vivid, unnatural colors, visible brushstrokes, and simplified or abstracted imagery.
Painterly: Having clear brush-strokes.
Wicker: A flexible branch or twig of a plant such as willow, used in weaving baskets and furniture.

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:

• Detailed Goldfish Image - Side View
• Abstracted Goldfish Images - Top View
• Fishbowl
• Potted Plant
• Wicker Chair

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Find the city of Nice, the birthplace of Henri Matisse, on the map of France.

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 14 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 may be indoors or perhaps on a patio with a table, chair, and potted plants.

2 / 8

Question 3

What happens in the artwork?

3 / 8

Answer 3

Goldfish float in a fishbowl in amidst foliage and flowers.

3 / 8

Question 4

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

4 / 8

Answer 4

The artwork falls into the still life 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 (1912).

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 may be indoors or perhaps on a patio with a table, chair, and potted plants.
3. What happens in the artwork? Goldfish float in a fishbowl in amidst foliage and flowers.
4. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork falls into the still life 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 (1912).

References

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