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Developing Assessments Based on NJ Standards
Realism t Cubism
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Cubism Painting
Introduction
Look at the picture to the right.  Do you see a basket of fruit?  And how about on the left?  More fruit?  A guitar in a messy room?  Could this be art?  And what kind?  Still life?  YES!  Cubism?  YES!
Fruit Basket Painting

What You Know
You know that when you are driving along on a road that there are many shapes and sizes of cars.  But we call them all cars anyway, even though they don't look alike.
 

Do you remember looking through a kaleidoscope and seeing the colors in a room, but the shapes were all jagged - and they changed?  Do you think cars are a kind of art?  Do you think art should look EXACTLY like an object?  Perhaps different people see things in different ways, and want to paint or draw a picture to let you know how they see something. Kaleidoscope Picture

Activity
Now imagine looking at a bowl of fruit using a kaleidoscope.  Or imagine just using new colors for the fruit.  You might also want to think about adding shapes like triangles to the round shapes.  Perhaps you may not feel that you need to add shading.  Look at these three still-life paintings:
 
 

Persian Pottery Painting
"Persian Pottery"
by E. Stewart
Le Jour Painting
"Le Jour"
by Braques
Fruit Basket Painting
"Fruit Basket"
by Picasso

Work in groups.  Number each question as you answer it.  Be prepared to defend your answer when the teacher calls on your group.
    1.  Which painting looks more realistic?
    2.  Which looks the most "flat," or the most dimensional?
    3. In the abstract work, can you name the objects you see?
    4. How has the artist changed them from the real shapes?  Or, do you think that is his feeling or impression of them?
    5.  Which type of art is easier to create?
    6.  Do you think there is a "better" way to look at or paint objects?
    7.  Do you think these artists drew this way because they couldn't do any better?  Why or why not?

To find out more about Cubism & artists, check out the background page.

See Glossary to check on the meaning of words.

Resources for additional information.

Artcyclopedia A quick look at Cubism with a list of the artists involved in the movement. 
Art Detective The first in  a series of interactive online Art Adventures.  You'll discover how great artists made their famous works of art, while learning tips and techniques for creating your own art work.
Art Dictionary Definitions of 2,800 terms along with numerous illustrations, great quotes, pronunciation notes and links to other resources.
ArtDaily  Click on Museums, check on current exhibits, or try an art quiz.