Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 6: Expressionism - The Blue Rider (1903)

by Wassily Kandinsky

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

Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky's 'The Blue Rider' (1903) is notable as it leverages elements of both post-impressionism and expressionism [2]. Recall that visible brushstrokes, thick layers of paint, and real-life subject matter are characteristics of post-impressionist works. Also recall that expressionist art depicts an artist's subjective emotion or insight rather than objective reality. In the painting, a cloaked rider gallops through a sunlit meadow. In the background, forested hills curve under puffy clouds in a bright blue sky. Note how the rider wears the color blue. According to [3], for Kandinsky, blue represents spirituality where the darkness of the blue corresponds to the magnitude of desire for the eternal. Zoom in on the painting to examine the rider - some believe the rider holds a child in their arms.

Vocabulary

Expressionism: A movement in the arts in which the artist did not depict objective reality, but rather a subjective expression of their inner experiences.
Post-Impressionism: A genre of painting that rejected the naturalism of impressionism, using color and form in more expressive manners.
Spirituality: Concern for that which is unseen and intangible. Appreciation for religious values.
Eternal: Existing outside time or existing forever.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Expressionism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1905-1920

Movement Characteristics:

1. Conveys artist's subjective emotion and derived meaning rather than objective reality
2. Deforms elements of reality
3. Features vivid or unnatural colors
4. Expresses strong emotions including dismay and sadness
5. See 'Fighting Forms' by Franz Marc as an example of expressionist characteristics

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Landscapes - 'Landscape with Cows and Camel' by August Macke

2. Portraits - 'Portrait of Gerda' by Ernst Kirchner

3. Cityscapes - 'Berlin Street Scene' by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Cloak
• Rider
• Horse
• Rocks
• Rider's Shadow
• Meadow
• Something Representing Spirituality

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Find Russia, Wassily Kandinsky's home country, on the map of Europe.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

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

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 9 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is expressionism?

1 / 8

Answer 1

Expressionism seeks to represent what the artist feels rather than an objective representation of reality.

1 / 8

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 8

Answer 2

The setting is outdoors in a sunny meadow.

2 / 8

Question 3

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

3 / 8

Answer 3

The artwork falls into the landscape genre.

3 / 8

Question 4

What happens in the artwork?

4 / 8

Answer 4

A rider cloaked in blue and on horseback dashes across a sunny meadow.

4 / 8

Question 5

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

5 / 8

Answer 5

This painting belongs to the expressionism art movement.

5 / 8

Question 6

How does this artwork serve as an example of expressionism?

6 / 8

Answer 6

The rider cloaked in blue potentially represents spiritualism or the eternal.

6 / 8

Question 7

Which genres commonly coincide with expressionism?

7 / 8

Answer 7

Landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes often coincide with expressionism.

7 / 8

Question 8

During which century was this artwork created?

8 / 8

Answer 8

This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1903).

8 / 8

❮ ❯

1. What is expressionism? Expressionism seeks to represent what the artist feels rather than an objective representation of reality.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outdoors in a sunny meadow.
3. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork falls into the landscape genre.
4. What happens in the artwork? A rider cloaked in blue and on horseback dashes across a sunny meadow.
5. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the expressionism art movement.
6. How does this artwork serve as an example of expressionism? The rider cloaked in blue potentially represents spiritualism or the eternal.
7. Which genres commonly coincide with expressionism? Landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes often coincide with expressionism.
8. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1903).

References

'Expressionism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Blue rider.' Wikiart. www.wikiart.org/en/wassily-kandinsky/blue-rider-1903. n.p.

'Der Blaue Reiter.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.