ART 211: Survey of Visual Art
Early Modern
ART 211
IMPORTANT NOTE: This web-version syllabus is provided for your convenience. It is NOT intended to take the place of in-class materials or information. Changes or additions MAY be announced in class.
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Instructor: betsy VanderSchaaf
Office: 128 Art (Bldg. 11)
Phone: 463-5415 or (Art Office) 463-5409
Course Objectives:
This class will focus on the radical developments in art from the mid-nineteenth century into the first decade of the twentieth century, a period often viewed as the "birth" of modern art. We will investigate the concept of modernism through a close examination of the art produced during this seminal period—particularly developments in French painting—and its relationship to the social, historical and political ethos. Our goal is to understand the complex fabric of this era, to discover how the visual arts are embedded in its fabric, and to make connections to our own lives and time.
And if you’ve read this far, I hope I can assure you we’ll have a really good time looking at really wonderful stuff, and perhaps at times later in your life you’ll flash on this class and these images, and say “hey! I recognize that!” Not bad, ay?
Course Requirements:
Looking/Attendance. Come to class (bring your eyes along.) Your participation is crucial for the success of our group endeavor.
Attendance is essential, and does count toward your final grade.
Exams/Assignments/In-class activities. These will be occur throughout the term, and will be described and discussed in class. You will receive handouts for the assignments. NO MAKE-UPS WILL BE GIVEN. You must attend class to pass this course.
Visual Analysis. Assignments throughout the term are designed to help all students learn the basics of visual analysis, regardless of any previous knowledge of art. We will work together to hone our skills, and guidelines for visual analyses will be provided and discussed in class.
Textbook & Other Resources:
Required Text: John Canaday, Mainstreams of Modern Art (2nd edition—but the 1st edition will work just fine as well.)
Copies of the textbook have been placed on reserve at the LCC Library. The Library also has copies of the text History of Modern Art by H.H. Arnason (4th edition,) and Modern Art (by Hunter, Jacobus, Wheeler, 3rd edition.) Those of you with an abiding interest in art of the past two centuries may want to purchase one of these texts as an additional at-home resource.
In addition to copies of the above texts, the following books have been placed on reserve in the LCC Library. Students are encouraged to use these materials, and to investigate other books and on-line information on specific periods and artists, as supplements to the required text. I believe you will all find it most helpful to explore many resources, especially for additional visual images, even if you do not read the texts. And whenever you read, be a descerning reader!
G. Hamilton, 19th and 20th Century Art
J. Russell, Meanings of Modern Art (vols. 1-12)
M. Giry, Fauvism: Origins and Development
H.B. Chipp, Theories of Modern Art
Sutter et al., The NeoImpressionists
Grading Policy: Your recorded term grade will be based on the percentage you earn of the total points possible for writing assignments, in-class activities, visual analyses, and for any additional projects which may be assigned. My belief is that your success and the value of this class to you (and your value to the class) can be more accurately gauged by your interest, curiousity, participation and passion. Percentages are as follows:
98-100% = A+
94-97% = A
90-93% = A-
87-89% = B+
84-86% = B
80-83% = B-
77-79% = C+
74-76% = C
70-73% = C-
60-69% = D
below 60% failing grade
Note: If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations through Disability Services. For more information, contact Disability Services at (541) 463-5150 (voice) or 463-3079 (TTY), or stop by Building 1,
Room 218.
FYI: Tutor Central (CEN 210) offers FREE tutoring assistance as well as a nice study environment. Tutors are available for writing, MTH 010 and 020, Effective Learning and many other subjects. Most tutors are also current students and can offer ideas to assist you with any subject. Tutor Central also has two group study rooms and a quiet study room. DON’T DELAY. Statistics show that students who get tutoring help early in the term achieve significantly higher grades.
SAMPLE COURSE, READING, ASSIGNMENTS SCHEDULE
Following is a sample lecture schedule for Art 211. Since this course is organized in response to group investigation of the visual and contextual material, some deviation from the following schedule may occur.
Page numbers refer to the text, Canaday’s Mainstreams of Modern Art.
Week 1
Introduction to Modern Art (waltzing through the centuries)
The Issues of Modernism: Manet and Modern Paris
READ: Canaday, Chapter 14
Suggested: Canaday, pp. 178-84 (1st part of "The Salon at Midcentury")
Week 2
Manet (continued)
Impressionism
READ: Canaday, Chapter 15
Week 3
The Impressionism of Monet & Renoir
READ: Canaday, Chapter 17
Monet (continued); Degas and Impressionism
READ: Canaday, Chapters 16 & 18
Week 4
More Degas, including sculpture
Mary Cassatt; the mysterious Caillebotte
Week 5
Post-Impressionism: Georges (“lotsa dots”) Seurat
READ: Canaday, Chapter 23 (section on Seurat)
Post-Impressionism: Art Nouveau posters of Jules Cheret &
Toulouse-Lautrec in brief; Paul Cezanne
READ: Canaday, Chapter 23 (section on Cezanne)
Week 6
Post-Impressionism: Gauguin to 1888; Intro to Van Gogh
READ: Canaday, Chapter 24 (“Post-Impressionism: Its Romantics”)
Vincent Van Gogh and his Lust for Life
Week 7
Gauguin’s later career; Symbolism & fin-de-siecle stuff
READ: Canaday pp. 368-376 & 400-403
In-class Video – In a Brilliant Light: Van Gogh at Arles
Week 8
Edvard Munch
Matisse & the early work of Pablo Picasso
Week 9
Fauvism & the art of Henri Matisse
READ: Canaday pp. 424-430
Thanksgiving holiday
Week 10
Picasso, Braque, Cubism & the New 20th Century
READ: Canaday pp. 424-432
Final wrap-up and class assessment—how’d we do?
Week 11
ASSIGNMENT # 8 DUE TUESDAY OF FINALS WEEK
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ART 211
Please check this section frequently for instructor updates, or class cancelations.
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ART 211
You will be responsible for knowing the name of the artist, title, and date of the following works for the first in-class exam. The numbers in parentheses refer to the illustration or plate numbers in your text, Canaday's Mainstreams of Modern Art. Works with (Lecture) after them will be shown in class. You must attend lectures in order to become familiar with these works. In addition, you should be prepared to identify an "unknown" work by each artist.
ATTENTION! The following monument list is a "work in progress". If you would like to help with this project, please talk with BETSY.
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E. Manet (1832-83)
Concert at the Tuileries, 1862 (Lecture)
Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe ("Luncheon on the Grass"), 1863 (C242)
Olympia, 1863 (C plate 13)
C. Monet (1840-1926)
La Grenouillere ("The Frogpond"), 1869 (Lecture)
Rouen Cathedral, 1894 (C plate 16)
Water Lilies, c.1900-1926 (cf. C 270)
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A. Renoir (1841-1919)
Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1881 (C 299)
E. Degas (1834-1917)
Foyer de la Danse, 1872 (C 284)
Little Dancer of Fourteen Years, 1880-81 (C 294)
M. Cassatt (1845-1927)
The Bath, 1891 (C 313)
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G. Seurat (1859-91)
Bathers, Asnieres (Une Baignade), 1883-84 (C 378)
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grand Jatte, 1884-86 (C pl. 23)
The Circus, 1890-91 (C 379)
P. Cezanne (1839-1906)
Still-Life with Basket of Apples, 1890-94 (C - Lecture)
Mont Sainte-Victoire, 1904-06 (C plate 27)
The Great Bathers, 1889-1906 (C 403)
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P. Gauguin (1848-1903)
The Vision After the Sermon, 1888 (C 421)
Grape Harvest: Human Misery, 1888 (Lecture)
Whence Come We? What Are We? Whither Go We?, 1897 (C 428)
V. Van Gogh (1853-90)
Self Portrait, 1888 (C 412)
Night Cafe, 1888 (C - Lecture)
Starry Night, 1889 (C 405)
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