Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 2: Pointillism - Circus Sideshow (1888)

by Georges Seurat

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

'Circus Sideshow' (1888), a genre art painting, by Georges Seurat features the Corvi Circus troupe sideshow at the annual Parisian Gingerbread Fair. A trombonist dominates the center platform. To his left, backup musicians play behind a balustrade. To his right, the circus ringmaster holds a riding crop under this arm and a young boy performs. The hatted heads of the audience appear at the bottom of the painting. A row of gas jet flames along the top illuminates the night scene. A barren tree indicates the outdoor location and the winter season. Seurat is well-known for employing pointillism, which uses small dots of color to create an image. Note the dots of blues, yellows, oranges, and greens making up the scene.

Vocabulary

Pointillism: In art, the use of small areas of color to construct an image.
Troupe: A company of, often touring, actors, singers or dancers.
Sideshow: A minor attraction at a larger event such as a circus, fair, music festival or similar.
Balustrade: A row of balusters (short columns) topped by a rail.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Pointillism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1886-1900

Characteristics:

1. Dots of different colors blend at a distance to make images

2. Pointillism artists often used oil-based paint

3. Pointillism artists often painted on canvas

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Landscapes - 'The Cabbage Place at Pontoise' by Camille Pissarro

2. Portraits - 'Woman with a Hat' by Jean Metzinger

3. Genre Art (Everyday life) - 'Woman and Child' by Théo Van Rysselberghe

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Trombonist
• Balustrade
• Gas Jets
• Ringmaster
• Performing Boy
• Someone Watching the Spectacle
• Something Used for Riding
• Something Signifying Winter
• Oboe
• Cornet (similar to trumpet)
• Yellow dot of color
• Green dot of color
• Orange dot of color

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Find Paris on the map of France.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork employs pointillism.
• Find pointillism on the timeline.
• During which approximate years did pointillism flourish?
• Which art movement followed pointillism?

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 5 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is pointillism?

1 / 7

Answer 1

Pointillism involves using small dots of color to create an image.

1 / 7

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 7

Answer 2

The setting is outdoors at a circus in Paris, France.

2 / 7

Question 3

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

3 / 7

Answer 3

The artwork falls into the genre art (everyday life) genre.

3 / 7

Question 4

What happens in the artwork?

4 / 7

Answer 4

A circus audience watches a group of musicians, a boy, and a ringmaster perform.

4 / 7

Question 5

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

5 / 7

Answer 5

This painting belongs to the pointillism art movement.

5 / 7

Question 6

Which genres commonly coincide with the pointillism technique?

6 / 7

Answer 6

Landscapes, portraits, and genre art often coincide with the pointillism technique.

6 / 7

Question 7

During which century was this artwork created?

7 / 7

Answer 7

This artwork was created in the late 19th century (1888).

7 / 7

❮ ❯

1. What is pointillism? Pointillism involves using small dots of color to create an image.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outdoors at a circus in Paris, France.
3. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork falls into the genre art (everyday life) genre.
4. What happens in the artwork? A circus audience watches a group of musicians, a boy, and a ringmaster perform.
5. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the pointillism art movement.
6. Which genres commonly coincide with the pointillism technique? Landscapes, portraits, and genre art often coincide with the pointillism technique.
7. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the late 19th century (1888).

References

'Pointillism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Parade de cirque.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.