Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 31: Surrealism - Puppet Theater (1923)

by Paul Klee

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.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Paul Klee's 1923 surrealist painting 'Puppet Theater,' was likely inspired by the hand puppets and the theater he made for his son, Felix [2]. 'Puppet Theater' features brightly lined props and puppets in the dark framed backdrop of a theater. Recognizable items include a girl puppet in a dress, a curtained window, the sun, a doll, a mushroom, and a dog.

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.

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:

• Girl Puppet
• Sun
• Dog Puppet
• Doll
• Curtains
• Flowers

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

• Paul Klee was born in Switzerland. Find Switzerland 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 34 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

Describe the artwork.

2 / 5

Answer 2

The artwork features a puppet theater, puppets, and stage props.

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 (1923).

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. Describe the artwork. The artwork features a puppet theater, puppets, and stage props.
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 (1923).

References

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

'Puppet Theatre.' Paul-Klee.org. www.paul-klee.org/puppet-theatre/. n.p.