THE IMPRESSIONISTS

INTRODUCTION | THE TASK | THE PROCESS | RESOURCES | EVALUATION | CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

In 1874 a group of French painters held an exhibit of their work in Paris. Art critics were outraged by the "unfinished" appearance of the paintings. The artists were strongly criticized for their sloppy techniques and workmanship. One critic used the term "impressionistic" to mockingly describe all of the exhibited work. After the exhibit the painters adopted this term and became known to the art world as "The Impressionists." Today the works of these artists and many of their contemporaries are among the most popular and valued in the world. Who were these painters? What was so different about their style? In the next several days you will learn the answers to these questions and much more about "The Impressionists" and the paintings they created.

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THE TASK

As painting students, your task will be to use the World Wide Web to gather information to answer the questions listed below.

  • What eight painters are generally considered to be the most important Impressionists?
  • What were the most significant characteristics of Impressionistic paintings?
  • Why did Claude Monet produce so many paintings of the same view of the Rouen Cathedral?
  • In 1879 Pierre Auguste Renoir painted "Oarsmen at Chatou." Write a critique of the painting. Your critique should address each of the "Elements of Art" and how they apply to this particular work.
  • Choose "two" Impressionists. Compare and contrast their styles, color usage, and subject matter. Devote a paragraph to each item.
  • Which Impressionist Painter do you most identify with, and why? Include the names, and locations (museums or private collections) of 10 paintings which are personal favorites, and briefly describe why each painting was selected.

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THE PROCESS

 

Day One

  1. Review the material on "The Impressionists" in your ART in Focus text.
  2. You will be assigned a computer station to use for the next 2days.

Day Two/ Media Center

  1. Work through the questions in the order they are given.
  2. Take notes as you read, make certain your answers are clear and to the point. You may want to open Notepad so you can record your responses.
  3. Begin your Webquest.

Day Three

  1. Finish your research.
  2. Hand-in your answers to the task questions.

Day Four

  Share your findings and answers as a class.

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RESOURCES

 

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EVALUATION

 

 

Points will be awarded for the completion of each assigned task. The points will be given as follows:

Task 1. Identify the eight most important Impressionist painters.

  • Student correctly identified all eight painters. 10 pts.

  • Student did not correctly identify all eight painters. 0 pts.

Task 2. Identify the most significant characteristics of Impressionism.

  • Student explanation was clearly written and demonstrated understanding of the characteristics of Impressionism. 50 pts.

  • Student explanation was vague and did not address the most significant characteristics. 30 pts.

  • Student did not respond. 0 pts.

Task 3. Explain why there are so many paintings of the Rouen Cathedral by Monet?

  • Student response was precise and exactly to the point. Clearly made the correct assessment. 20 pts.

  • Student response was not completely accurate in the assessment, needs more clarification. 15 pts.

  • Student did not respond. 0 pts.

Task 4. Write a critique of Renoir's painting "Oarsmen at Chatou."

  • Student is able to clearly demonstrate his understanding of the "Elements of Art" and how they are properly applied when evaluating a particular work of art. 50 pts.

  • Student has identified most, but not all, of the "Elements of Art" and is able to apply them in only moderate terms. 35 pts.

  • Student understanding of art terminology is not clear. 20 pts.

  • Student did not respond. 0 pts.

Task 5. Compare and Contrast the styles, colors, and subject matter of two Impressionist painters.

  • Student demonstrates understanding of similarities and differences between two works of art and is able to express this understanding in writing. Art terminology is used to support ideas and conclusions. Three written paragraphs are required. 50 pts.

  • Student demonstrates a partial understanding of the requirements. Art terminology is used, but comparisons are not clearly stated. 35 pts.

  • Student writing is unclear and scattered. Student has some key points, but paragraphs lack substance. 25 pts.

  • Student did not respond. 0 pts.

Task 6. Select an Impressionist you most identify with and tell why. Include a selection of the artist's works and describe why they were chosen.

  • Student has enthusiasm in his/her writing. It is clear why this artist was selected. Ten works are identified and they support the student's choice. Explanations for the paintings are clear and to the point. It is obvious the student put a great effort into this task. 50 pts.

  • Student has chosen an artist but the reason for the choice is not clearly defined. The explanation lacks content. Ten paintings are identified, but the reasons for the choices are not always clear. 35 pts.

  • Student seems uncertain about choice of artist. Supporting reasons are vague. Student has some missing information about the paintings and they don't appear to completely support the choice. 20 pts.

  • Student did not respond. 0 pts.

 

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CONCLUSION

At the conclusion of this WebQuest you will have visited many places and observed works of art that are not readily available in the classroom. You will have gained knowledge about a variety of artists, different styles and techniques of painting, and how Impressionism is defined. You will be better equipped to make judgements about the quality of your own work as well as the work of others. Challenge yourself to build on this brief exposure to the Internet, because you have the ability to unlock many new and exciting adventures in learning.

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