Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 13: Cubism - I and the Village (1911)

by Marc Chagall

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 next four lessons shift to the cubism art movement, prevalent between 1907-1914. Cubism was an avant-garde artistic movement that depicted of natural forms as geometric structures of planes. The fantastical, dreamlike 'I and the Village' (1911) by Marc Chagall overlays symbols of religion, life, and death. A green man holding a tree and wearing a cross looks at a goat/sheep wearing a similar cross. Layered over the goat/sheep, a milkmaid milks a goat. To the right, a man with a scythe approaches an upside-down woman playing the violin. In the background, a town of houses and a church adorn the skyline. The style is colorful and cubist, with geometric shapes, a fractured appearance, and three-dimensionality.

Vocabulary

Cubism: An avant-garde artistic movement in the early 20th Century characterized by the depiction of natural forms as geometric structures of planes.
Avant-garde: Any group of people who invent or promote new techniques or concepts, especially in the arts.
Fractured: Broken into sharp pieces.
Geometric: Using simple shapes such as circles, triangles and lines in a decorative object.
Three-dimensionality: The state or characteristic of occupying, or of appearing to occupy, three dimensions of space.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Cubism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1907-1914

Movement Characteristics:

1. Geometric shapes (squares, rectangles, etc.)
2. Three-dimensionality
3. Fractured appearance
4. Sharp angles rather than flowing curves
5. Note the geometric shapes, three-dimensionality, fractured appearance, and sharp angles exemplified by Pablo Picasso's 'Girl with a Mandolin' (1910), an example of a cubist artwork

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Landscapes - 'Quarry Bibémus' (1900) by Paul Cézanne

2. Portraits - 'Soldier at a Game of Chess' (1915) by Jean Metzinger

3. Cityscapes - 'La ville no. 2' (1911) by Robert Delaunay

4. Still Lifes - 'Violin and Candlestick' (1910) by Georges Braque

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Goat Being Milked
• Large Goat or Sheep
• Tree
• Milkmaid
• Man Carrying a Scythe
• Upside-down Violinist
• Church Cross
• 2 Necklaces with Cross Pendants
• Hat
• Upside-down Houses

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

• Marc Chagall was born in present-day Belarus.
• Find Belarus on the map of Europe.
• Recite aloud the countries bordering Belarus.
• What is the name of the capital of Belarus?
• Is Belarus in western Europe or eastern Europe?

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

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

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 16 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is cubism?

1 / 8

Answer 1

Cubism is an artistic movement in the early 20th Century characterized by the depiction of natural forms as geometric structures of planes.

1 / 8

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 8

Answer 2

The setting is outside in view of a town.

2 / 8

Question 3

What happens in the artwork?

3 / 8

Answer 3

The artwork overlays a series of dreamlike images of life, death, and religion.

3 / 8

Question 4

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

4 / 8

Answer 4

The artwork straddles landscape, cityscape, animal art, and portrait genres.

4 / 8

Question 5

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

5 / 8

Answer 5

This painting belongs to the cubism art movement.

5 / 8

Question 6

How does the artwork serve as an example of cubism?

6 / 8

Answer 6

The painting's geometric shapes, fractured appearance, and three-dimensionality are all characteristic of cubism.

6 / 8

Question 7

Which genres commonly coincide with cubism?

7 / 8

Answer 7

Landscapes, portraits, cityscapes, and still lifes often coincide with cubism.

7 / 8

Question 8

During which century was this artwork created?

8 / 8

Answer 8

This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1911).

8 / 8

❮ ❯

1. What is cubism? Cubism is an artistic movement in the early 20th Century characterized by the depiction of natural forms as geometric structures of planes.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outside in view of a town.
3. What happens in the artwork? The artwork overlays a series of dreamlike images of life, death, and religion.
4. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork straddles landscape, cityscape, animal art, and portrait genres.
5. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the cubism art movement.
6. How does the artwork serve as an example of cubism? The painting's geometric shapes, fractured appearance, and three-dimensionality are all characteristic of cubism.
7. Which genres commonly coincide with cubism? Landscapes, portraits, cityscapes, and still lifes often coincide with cubism.
8. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1911).

References

'Cubism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'I and the Village.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.