Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 32: Surrealism - Ubu Imperator (1923)

by Max Ernst

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 final example of surrealism is Max Ernst's 1923 painting 'Ubu Imperator' (Translation: Ubu Commander). 'Ubu' originates from a character named Father Ubu featured in plays by French writer Alfred Jarry. Ubu was 'Jarry's metaphor for the modern man; he is an antihero—fat, ugly, vulgar, gluttonous, grandiose, dishonest, stupid, jejune, voracious, greedy, cruel, cowardly and evil [2].' In the painting, an anthropomorphized top with human arms and hands balances on the sand of a barren desert. A green cloth and silvery hair drape over the top's shoulders. One empty eye peers from its leaning tower of a head, along with a small opening for a nose, a mustache, and a volcano-shaped mouth. A scythe defies gravity on the right of the artwork, and additional poles are seen in the distance.

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.
Anthropomorphize: To attribute human-like characteristics to something that is non-human.

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:

• Ubu
• Human Hands
• Tilted Tower
• Scythe
• Top Tip
• Shadow
• Top Tip
• Gray Hair
• Desert Sand
• Green Cloth
• Mustache
• Mouth

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

• Max Ernst was born in Germany. Find Germany 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 35 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 features the character Ubu as an anthropomorphized top.

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. What happens in the artwork? The artwork features the character Ubu as an anthropomorphized top.
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.

'Ubu Roi.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.