Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 9: Fauvism - The Turning Road, L'Estaque (1906)

by André Derain

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 Turning Road, L'Estaque' (1906), an oil painting on canvas, by André Derain is a landscape in the village of L'Estaque in Southern France. Many artists of Derain's time, such as Paul Cézanne, vacationed at L'Estaque, painting the picturesque village and its bay. 'The Turning Road, L'Estaque' derives its name from the turning road which arches across the painting. The swoop of blue near the bottom represents a river being enjoyed by a small cluster of people. One man trudges down the road with a large vase on his shoulder, perhaps gathering water for drinking, cooking, or bathing. In the background, horses trot by on the elevated portion of the road above. The painting exemplifies the avant-garde movement of fauvism with its vivid, unnatural colors and simplified, abstracted imagery. Short-lived, fauvism resulted in only three exhibitions between 1905 and 1908. According to [1], the fauvist style premiered to poor critical review. One particularly scandalized critic named the movement, calling the painters 'fauves' (wild beasts).

Vocabulary

Fauvism: An avant-garde style of painting with vivid, unnatural colors, visible brushstrokes, and simplified or abstracted imagery.
Avant-garde: Any group of people who invent or promote new techniques or concepts, especially in the arts.
Painterly: Having clear brush-strokes.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Fauvism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1905-1908

Movement Characteristics:

1. Bright, unnatural colors
2. Visible brushstrokes (painterly)
3. Simplified or abstracted images
4. Named by a scandalized art critic who called fauvists 'fauves' (wild beasts)
5. Note the bright colors, visible brushstrokes, and simplified imagery used in 'The Drying Sails' (1905) by André Derain as an example of fauvist characteristics

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Landscapes - 'Colorful Landscape with Water Birds' (1907) by Jean Metzinger

2. Portraits - 'Portrait of Jean Metzinger' (1906) by Robert Delaunay

3. Cityscapes - 'Charing Cross Bridge, London' (1906) by André Derain

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• The Turning Road
• Horses
• House
• River
• Vase
• Three People on the Turning Road

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

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

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Find Marseille, a large city in southern France, near the artwork setting of L'Estaque.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

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

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 12 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is fauvism?

1 / 8

Answer 1

Fauvism is a style of painting with vivid, unnatural colors, visible brushstrokes (painterly), and simplified or abstracted imagery.

1 / 8

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 8

Answer 2

The setting is outdoors in the village of L'Estaque in Southern France.

2 / 8

Question 3

What happens in the artwork?

3 / 8

Answer 3

People walk along a turning road and collect water from a river.

3 / 8

Question 4

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

4 / 8

Answer 4

The artwork falls into the landscape genre.

4 / 8

Question 5

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

5 / 8

Answer 5

This painting belongs to the fauvism art movement.

5 / 8

Question 6

How does the artwork serve as an example of fauvism?

6 / 8

Answer 6

The painting's bright colors, visible brush strokes, and abstracted images are all characteristic of fauvism.

6 / 8

Question 7

Which genres commonly coincide with fauvism?

7 / 8

Answer 7

Landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes often coincide with fauvism.

7 / 8

Question 8

During which century was this artwork created?

8 / 8

Answer 8

This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1906).

8 / 8

❮ ❯

1. What is fauvism? Fauvism is a style of painting with vivid, unnatural colors, visible brushstrokes (painterly), and simplified or abstracted imagery.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outdoors in the village of L'Estaque in Southern France.
3. What happens in the artwork? People walk along a turning road and collect water from a river.
4. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork falls into the landscape genre.
5. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the fauvism art movement.
6. How does the artwork serve as an example of fauvism? The painting's bright colors, visible brush strokes, and abstracted images are all characteristic of fauvism.
7. Which genres commonly coincide with fauvism? Landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes often coincide with fauvism.
8. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1906).

References

'Fauvism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'L'Estaque.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Cow. n.p.