Fauvist Portraits

van Gogh, Self Portrait 1989 Impressionism

Matisse, Woman with a Hat 1905 Post-Impressionism

The second graders began the year discovering the world of Post-Impressionism through the eyes of Henri Mattise. Students learned about the French painter and his association with the foundation of the Fauvist or “Wild Beast” Movement by analyzing characteristics of his style, comparing and contrasting them with the qualities of Van Gogh’s Impressionist paintings. After a thorough review of facial proportions as studied through self-portraits, the students drew stylized sketches of themselves, filling their drawings in with colors suggestive of Fauvism, as well as displaying Matisse-inspired patterns and black outlines. In this project, the students worked to refine their painting skills, by choosing appropriate sized brushes, mixing their own original colors, as well as discovering tips on paint application.