Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 30: Surrealism - The Song of Love (1915)

by Giorgio de Chirico

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 example of surrealism is Giorgio de Chirico's 1915 oil on canvas painting 'The Song of Love.' A green sphere balances before a sculpted Greek head and an enormous surgeon's glove [2]. Arched doorways lead into the building on the right. To the left, a brick wall, a shadowy locomotive, and some smoke create the skyline.

Vocabulary

Surrealism: An artistic movement aiming for the liberation of the mind by emphasizing the critical and imaginative powers of the subconscious.
Subconscious: That part of the mind that is not consciously perceived; one's innermost thoughts.
Locomotive: The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Surrealism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1917-1950

Movement Characteristics:

1. Representative of the subconscious
2. Dreamlike and subjective
3. The element of surprise
4. Mystical, magical, and oftentimes unsettling
5. Bizarre creatures and warped reality
6. See the fantastical surrealist creature in 'The Elephant Celebes' (1921) by Max Ernst

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Landscapes - 'Catalan Landscape' (The Hunter) (1924) by Joan Miro

2. Portraits - 'Diana in the Autumn Wind' (1921) by Paul Klee

3. Symbolic Paintings - 'Birds also Birds, Fish Snake and Scarecrow' (1921) by Max Ernst

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Something Greek
• Something Used by a Doctor
• Something Mechanical
• Something Arched
• Something Spherical

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

• De Chirico spent time in Italy and Germany. Find the two countries on the map of Europe.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

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

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 33 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is surrealism?

1 / 5

Answer 1

Surrealism was an artistic movement aiming for the liberation of the mind by emphasizing the critical and imaginative powers of the subconscious.

1 / 5

Question 2

What happens in the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The artwork depicts a Greek sculpture, a surgeon's glove, a green ball, a building, and a locomotive.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the surrealism art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How does the artwork serve as an example of surrealism?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The painting shows a fantastical composition, representing not reality but the subconscious of the artist, characteristic of surrealism.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1915).

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. What is surrealism? Surrealism was an artistic movement aiming for the liberation of the mind by emphasizing the critical and imaginative powers of the subconscious.
2. What happens in the artwork? The artwork depicts a Greek sculpture, a surgeon's glove, a green ball, a building, and a locomotive.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the surrealism art movement.
4. How does the artwork serve as an example of surrealism? The painting shows a fantastical composition, representing not reality but the subconscious of the artist, characteristic of surrealism.
5. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1915).

References

'Surrealism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Song of Love.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.