virtual field trip: form in modern art

This brief “field trip” will take you to a number of paintings and drawings that illustrate a phenomenon in early twentieth century art: the “rediscovery” of volume. You’ll see paintings by Impressionists -– the most popular avant garde movement at the opening of the century – and then works by Paul Cezanne, widely regarded as the “father of modern art.” Afterwards you’ll see the work of the Cubists, a groundbreaking group of artists whose break with the rules of Art was so profound it set the stage for everything that has happened since.

What ties these different painters together is the evolution of a way of perceiving and depicting form in their art.

impressionismUse these links to find information about and examples of Impressionism.

Bend in the Epte River near Giverny Claude Monet, 1888

WaterliliesClaude Monet, 1910

Houses of Parliament, London1905

Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through the Fog1904Le Parlement, Effet de Brouillard1904

three paintings by claude monet

Click on the space to the right and watch as three of Monet’s paintings of the same

subject are superimposed upon each other. What happens to the buildings

sense of solidity and weight from painting to painting? What happens to the forms

you see?

Detail from La Parade Georges-Pierre Seurat, 1889

two neoimpressionist figure paintingsWrite a page in your sketchbooks explaining the differences in these paintings. What happens to the sense of three dimensional volume in the Cezanne? Describe the effect each artist achieved and how it was done.

Boy with Red VestPaul Cezanne1888-1890

paul cezanne

Click on these links to find images and information about the life and work of Paul Cezanne. Write a page explaining in your own words what it is that Cezanne accomplished. That is, what was the primary focus of Impressionism and what did he do to change it? Print out some of the images and paste them into your sketchbook so you can use them to illustrate your explanations.

Apples, Peaches, Pears, and Grapesc. 1879-80

Still Life with Skull1895-1900

cubism

Use these links to find information about and examples of Cubism. Name and explain

the two phases of Cubism, print out and paste examples of each in your sketchbook.

PortugaisGeorges Braque, 1911-12

Houses on the Hill Horta de Ebro Pablo Picasso, 1909

Ambroise VollardPablo Picasso, 1915

Still Life with Chair Caning Pablo Picasso,

Three MusiciansPablo Picasso,