Dear teacher, Practise languages These art-chat cards will help you and with your class practise language skills based our on selected works in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK). Art and design teachers can also use the cards to art initiate dialogues on art-related themes. You and your students can talk about everyday subjects from clothes to hobbies, parties to vacations, the five senses or anything else that comes to mind. What’s more, this is a great way to become acquainted with art and the MSK collection.

The art-chat cards are a tool intended to spark lively discussions. The concept is chat simple: look at the work of art on the card, take inspiration from the example questions, and engage each other in conversation. The art-chat cards serve as a stepping stone between experiencing art and learning language skills. Since they are designed for use with no need for help from museum staff or a guide, you and your class can use them in any way you like.

Have fun looking and chatting! cards

MSK Ghent Notes for teachers Information → Look through the cards → Print the art-chat cards and → The art-chat cards are available beforehand and select the art, decide how you want to display in Dutch, French, English and topics and questions that are the images: printed, on a German. You can download them most suitable for your class, for computer screen, projected? from our website for use in the example based on the level or the → Choose a discussion format, for classroom. amount of time you have. You can example with the entire class or → The works of art depicted on the also opt to change or leave out in smaller groups. cards can all be found on our certain questions or themes, or → Ask students to look carefully at website. to add your own. Try to formulate the work of art, and then to read open questions, which will the questions to each other out Want to see the art encourage students to come up loud. ‘for real’? with a more extensive response → Give everyone a chance to speak, You are very welcome to visit the than simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’. and take time to look at and listen MSK. Entrance is free for everyone → Each work of art is accompanied to each other. aged 18 and younger. For those aged by a brief explanatory text with → Make sure everyone has the 19 to 25, a ticket costs €2. You can background information. same amount of speaking time. come to the museum with your → The following themes are Mistakes are allowed! class, but you can also come alone covered: hobbies, parties, love, → You can also ask students or with friends or family. music, childhood, portraits, the to come up with additional city, seasons, the senses, food questions for each other based → Complete visitor information and drink, vacations, art, school, on the works of art or the themes. for the MSK can be found at clothes, stories and animals. Encourage them to formulate www.mskgent.be. open questions. → If you have any questions, comments or suggestions regarding our art-chat cards, please let us know. You can reach us at [email protected].

Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent Fernand Scribedreef 1 9000 Gent, België mskgent.be Guidelines for classroom use → Look at the work of art and read → Try to make sure everyone gets the questions to each other out just as much time to speak. loud. Everyone should have a Mistakes are allowed! chance to answer. → Want to find out more about the → You can also think of extra work of art? Read the short text questions. Try to formulate open with background information. questions that encourage more of an answer than just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. → Take time to look at and listen to each other. Hobby What do you see? What is your hobby? What else can you say about it? What colours do you see? How often do you What is the woman practise your hobby? doing? Where do you practise Which room is she sitting your hobby? in? How can you tell? What title would you give Do you like to read? this painting?

What kind of books do you enjoy reading?

Torajiro Kojima, word for ‘wild beasts’, Woman Reading, 1921 is a style of art that features bold colours, or fauves. While he Japanese artist Torajiro Kojima was in Europe, Kojima collected was enchanted by the city of paintings by his contemporaries Ghent and its mediaeval buildings. in and his friends in Ghent. From 1909 to 1912 he studied at The paintings he took back to the Ghent Academy for Fine Arts, Japan – by artists including Claus, where he met an artist who had Delvin, Monet, Matisse, Marquet a significant influence on him: and Rodin – formed the basis of the Emile Claus (see The Kingfishers). collection of the first museum for Various European movements modern Western art in Japan, the inspired Kojima, including Ohara Museum of Art in Kurashiki, Impressionism and Fauvism. which opened in 1929. Taking its name from the French Party What do you see? What do you celebrate? What colours do you see? What is your favourite celebration? Why? Who What kind of celebration else is there? is this? How can you tell? What was your favourite What are they eating? birthday party?

Have you ever been to a What title would you give wedding? this painting?

How do you like to celebrate?

Pieter Brueghel the Younger, leaning back with a jug in his hand? The Wedding Feast, 1616 Bagpipers play music, and in the foreground a child laps up a bowl of This work, set in a barn, shows porridge. Above right, two bundles a 17th-century Flemish peasant of corn and a hoe are symbols of wedding. The bride is positioned a fruitful harvest. This painting is in the middle, in front of the white a copy of the original one by the cloth on which her paper bridal artist’s father, Pieter Breughel the crown is pinned. Traditionally, Elder. In this later version a courting only the bride was allowed to wear couple has been added, half hidden her hair loose during her wedding in the hayloft at the left. The peasant celebration. It is not entirely clear wedding is a genre piece: a which man is the groom. Is he the representation of day-to-day life. one seated opposite the bride, Love What do you see? What do you think is most important in a What colours do you relationship? notice? What colour represents How does this painting love? make you feel? What flower represents Have you ever been in love? love? Think of five words What does love mean for associated with love. you? What title would you give this painting?

Léon De Smet, Interior, also turns up in other paintings by or The Lovers, 1911 Léon de Smet. Here, the painter has used refined colour and A smitten couple seem to melt careful composition to create an into each other in this painting. atmosphere of space and light. An We see light from outside falling interesting detail is his use of the on the wall above the pair, which painting technique of , suggests a window. As he often did, in which paint is not mixed on the the painter has depicted two of his palette but applied to the canvas own works in this painting, one on as dots of pure colour. When we each side of the chimney. There is look at them, our brain registers also a reference to George Minne in them as areas of colour, which the form of one of his best-known means we see them as if they were sculptures, The Little Relic Bearer, blended together. on the mantelpiece. This sculpture Music What do you see? What kind of music do you like to listen to? Who What is the woman is your favourite artist? doing? What do you enjoy about listening to their music? How does this painting make you feel? Have you ever been to a concert or a festival? When do you listen to What did you think of it? music? Do you play a musical When do you turn up the instrument? volume? What title would you give What does music mean this painting? to you?

Fanny Paelinck-Horgnies, ages. In this painting we see her Saint Cecilia, 1829 playing the harp, which became increasingly popular in the early Most of the paintings in the 19th century. This is a typical museum were made by men, example of neoclassical painting, but this one is by a woman. It a style inspired by classical Greek depicts Saint Cecilia, one of the and Roman art. A typical feature most popular Roman martyrs is the clear representation of of the second century AD. Saint reality, achieved through the use Cecilia has been the patron saint of powerful lines. of music since the late middle Childhood What do you see? What toys did you have? What did you most enjoy What colours stand out? playing with?

How does the girl feel? Do you have sisters or brothers that you played How does this painting with? What do you still do make you feel? together now?

What is your favourite What title would you give memory from your this painting? childhood?

Felice Casorati, Girl of childhood and the future, on a Red Carpet, 1912 her adulthood. The unexpected combination of red and bluish- Ada Trentini was the model for violet adds to the dreamy mood this painting. A photograph exists of the painting. This view is from a showing her in a similar pose, bird’s-eye perspective, in which the which inspired the painter. Light painter is apparently looking down flows in through the windows, on the subject from above. This falling in clear shapes on the emphasizes the distance between ground. Ada has spread her the viewer and the girl, who has treasures on the floor, and they withdrawn into a world of her own. represent both the bygone years Portrait What do you see? What do you notice about the interior? What Is the girl happy or sad? furniture do you see? Why? How can you tell? Which room in your How does the painting house is your favourite? make you feel? Why? Why?

The girl is in mourning Is the girl rich or poor? after her mother’s Why do you think so? death. Have you ever lost someone you cared How old is the girl? about? What title would you give What makes you sad? this painting? What makes you happy?

Théo Van Rysselberghe, her wan skin and the pale blue of Portrait of Marguerite Van the door, with its gold accents. Mons, 1886 The girl faces us, standing with her back against the door. With her Marguerite Van Mons looks back at right hand on the doorknob she the viewer with a dreamy, absent seems to have just entered the gaze. Théo Van Rysselberghe room, or be just about to leave it. painted this portrait of her shortly This ambiguous gesture and the after the death of her mother. Her melancholy atmosphere set the dark dress contrasts sharply with tone in this painting. The city What do you see? What kind of buildings can you find in a city? Do you live in a city, or outside of a city? Describe What are the the area you live in. characteristics of a country landscape? What are the advantages and disadvantages of What is your favourite living in a city? And of place in a city? living outside of the city? What title would you give How does the city make this painting? you feel?

And the countryside?

Erich Heckel, The realistic and detailed manner. Augustijnenrij in Bruges Instead, his cityscape is drawn with in the Morning, 1917 rapid strokes. Lines and blocks of colour are not carefully measured This painting is a cityscape of out. Rather than painting what he Bruges. The houses and the trees saw, Heckel painted what he felt: are at odd angles, which makes agitation. He created this painting them seem alive. Everything is in 1917, during the first World War, wobbly, and even the air waves and asking himself countless questions bends and spins. Of course, this as he worked. How were his friends is not a realistic representation and family getting along? Were of the city. Erich Heckel was not they still alive? What would he find a fijnschilder, or fine-painter, in if he could ever return home? The the tradition of Cornelis de Heem representation of emotions in (see Still Life with Flowers and works of art was a typical element Fruit), painting objects in a highly of Expressionism. Seasons What do you see? What is your favourite season? Why? What colours do you see? Which season is your How do you feel when least favourite? Why? you look at this painting? What season were you Have you ever walked or born in? How do you feel skated on ice? about that?

Can you name the four What title would you give seasons? this painting?

Emile Claus, The Ice Birds, the best impression of Claus’s way 1891 of painting, with so many blotches and stripes so carefully arranged. It is winter, and so cold that you If you stand back from the painting, can walk across the river. The you no longer see the blotches, and children glide over the ice on the colours seem to flow together. sleds, propelling themselves with A few painters discovered that this sticks. Instead of skates they wear was a better way to represent light: wooden shoes, because these the Impressionists. They created are warmer. Emile Claus called suggestions, or impressions, of light these children ‘ice birds’ instead and colour. The most difficult thing of playful birds. It is evening, and is to paint the light so precisely that the setting sun turns the sky pink. you can tell whether it is morning In the distance the farm seems to or afternoon or evening. Or spring, be sleeping among the bare trees, summer, autumn or winter. Claus which form a hazy mass. The ice is was a master in just this, and we represented with broader strokes, therefore refer to him as a light with white, yellow, pink and blue artist, or Luminist. tints bringing it to life. The sky gives Senses What do you see? Which of the senses do you think is least What are all the men in important? Why? the painting doing? What different types of What objects are they flavours can you name? holding? Different scents? Different textures? Different What do they represent? sounds?

Can you name all the What title would you give senses? this painting? Which of the senses do you think is most important? Why?

Theodoor Rombouts, Allegory props, or specific objects such as of the Five Senses, 1632 the old man’s glasses and mirror, which symbolize Sight. The figure In this scene the artist represents who represents Hearing is playing the five senses as five men a bass lute. The blind man in the holding various objects. Each man middle represents Touch: he sees symbolizes a particular sense. We nothing, but feels his way through call this an allegory: a depiction in life. The man holding the glass of which people or animals personify wine is Taste, and the young man abstract concepts that you cannot with the pipe and garlic symbolizes touch or depict realistically, such Scent. The painter seems to be as time, homesickness, seeing, saying, “Use your senses; you thinking or feeling. But you can have them for a reason. But don’t show these concepts by using overdo it.” Food and drink What do you see? What food do you dislike? Why? What colours do you see? What is your favourite Which ingredients do you snack? recognize? What is for lunch today? What is your favourite Did you make it yourself? food? Would you say you eat What is your favourite healthily, or unhealthily? drink? Why?

Do you like to cook? What What title would you give is your favourite thing to this painting? make? Why?

Cornelis de Heem, Still Life antennae on the snails. De Heem with Flowers and Fruit, 1670 was truly a ‘fine-painter’, using an extremely fine brush to create his This painting shows us a mountain works. In his paintings there is no of flowers and fruits: grapes, nuts, place for the wide brush strokes peaches, oranges, stems full of that Heckel and other artists used. blackberries and cherries. In Painting with this much precision between are red, pink, white and is not at all easy, but requires a blue flowers, hops and grain and steady hand and plenty of practice. grape leaves. Everything is highly Cornelis de Heem lived over 300 realistic and detailed: you can even years ago. He painted only still lifes, see the veins in the leaves and the his specialist subject. Vacation What do you see? What activities do you plan for when you go What colours do you see? on vacation? What do you like to do when you Have you travelled? travel? Where to? What place in the world Which countries have do you think is the most you visited? beautiful?

What places have you Which countries would visited in Belgium? What you like to visit? Why? is your favourite place in Belgium? How does the idea of travelling make you feel? Do you prefer to stay home or do you like to What title would you give travel? this painting?

Henri Evenepoel, The Moulin Rouge, in Paris. Thanks to Spaniard in Paris, 1899 it, we can immediately recognize the city. Evenepoel studied at the This well-dressed man, with Academy there, together with his cape, necktie and tall hat, is Iturrino. For ages Paris was known , a Spaniard. as the city of art, and painters from He walks alone in the square. All across Europe travelled to the the people in the background French capital to work and study. are in a hurry, running to their The background Evenepoel chose destinations. The Belgian painter was not an interior or a landscape, Henri Evenepoel created this but a slice of Paris. Evenepoel was life-sized, full-length portrait of also a photographer. He used his Iturrino. The red windmill visible own photos of the Moulin Rouge in the painting is the famous to create this painting. Art What do you see? If you could think up a museum, what kind of What colours can you one would you create? see? What could people do there? What shapes do you recognize? Which real-life museums would you like to visit? How does this painting Why? make you feel? Who is your favourite Have you ever visited a artist? museum? What could you see there? Have you been Do you like this painting? to MSK Ghent before? Why, or why not?

What title would you give this painting?

Victor Servranckx, Harbour. were purely abstract. The Belgian Opus 2, 1926 abstract movement emerged in Antwerp at the end of the first World As the title indicates, this work War, in part in the circle around the represents a harbour. The Belgian well-known poet Paul van Ostaijen. painter Victor Servranckx did not Victor Servranckx belonged to a paint it in a realistic way, but as an different group of abstract artists abstract harbour that is less easy active in Brussels. Servranckx to recognize. If you look carefully, remained true to his ideas about you can make out a boat from the the visual arts throughout his life. shapes. Servranckx often took He was undoubtedly the most inspiration from elements in the interesting figure in the abstract world of industry and mechanics, movement in Belgium. although most of his creations School What do you see? Which subjects are you good at? Which ones less What do you remember so? Why is that? about kindergarten? What about primary school? What do you want to study when you finish What is your favourite school? Why? school subject? Why? What job would you like What is your least to do later? Why? favourite subject? Why What title would you give this painting?

James Guthrie, Village painting the children wear their Children, 1884 poverty with pride, looking straight ahead and not at each other. The James Guthrie painted these artist’s decision to paint them in village children in Cockburnspath, profile reinforces this, making a small Scottish village where he their daily trek to the schoolroom lived among the local people. He appear rather like a ritual. The depicted rural life as plainly as children’s faces are painted in a possible. That was a characteristic highly photographic, realistic and of naturalism, a movement in detailed way, while their clothes, which people tried to paint as the country lane and the landscape ‘close to nature’ as possible. In this are depicted more as a sketch. Clothes What do you see? Which of your clothes are your favourite? Why? What colours do you see? What are you wearing What differences do you today? notice between the styles of clothing in the painting Have you ever designed and today’s fashion? a piece of clothing yourself? Can you also see any similarities? What title would you give this painting? When do you think this painting was made? What makes you think that?

Cornelis de Vos, Family we can tell that this is a wealthy Portrait, 1630 family is that their clothes are made of extremely expensive fabrics such We don’t know who the people in as lace, satin and velvet. The outfits this painting are. But we can see are trimmed with gold buttons and that they are very wealthy. First of pearls. Based on the clothes, you all, it would have cost a lot of money might think that the portrait depicts to have a portrait painted. And it only two male figures. But that isn’t took months for a painter to finish the case: in this era it was common the work. Children would have for boys under seven to wear robes. found it difficult to sit still for hours Another interesting part of the every day, so the painter may have outfits is the little helmet that the made a number of drawings of each youngest child is wearing. Cornelis family member beforehand. But de Vos has not only painted this for him to get the lighting and the family’s outward appearance, but composition just right, the family he has also tried to show us how had to pose together. Another way they feel. Stories What do you see? What is your favourite fairy tale? Can you give a What story do you think summary of the story? is depicted here? Why is this your favourite What is this story about? fairy tale?

What stories did people What title would you give tell you when you were this work? little?

What character from a story would you like to be? Why?

Emile Namur, Cinderella, 1881 these two characteristics by being a good observer of nature. He did not Emile Jean François Namur was aspire to create difficult, intellectual a Belgian sculptor. Throughout sculptures or to be highly original. his life he sculpted mainly nudes Instead, he wanted observers to and busts. But he also worked on enjoy the experience of looking, and historic buildings, for instance to note a reference to history. This designing decorative figures for work’s title refers to the well-known the Brussels city hall. This figure of fairy tale about a girl whose life Cinderella was his most successful consisted of performing chores for work, being not only simple but also her stepmother and stepsisters – elegant. Namur learned to combine until she met her dream prince. Animals What do you see? Do you have pets at home? How do you take Which colours do you care of them? notice? Have you ever been to a Which animals can you zoo? What did you see see in this painting? there?

What is your favourite What title would you give animal? Why? this painting?

What is the most interesting animal you have ever heard of? Why?

David de Coninck, Animals various fowl. These animals were in a Garden, 17th century native to Europe. At that time some people also kept exotic animals in David de Coninck was a painter who gardens, such as monkeys, lions, lived in the southern Netherlands camels and ostriches. So in a sense, in the 17th century. He travelled there were already zoos of a sort extensively in Europe, working in during the late middle ages. The Rome for a while. He painted mainly animals in this painting catch the still lifes, landscapes with animals eye because they are painted in and hunting scenes. But he also lighter tints and stand out against liked to paint animals in the garden. the darker background. Various People have kept animals in their animals and objects in this painting gardens since the middle ages. In also turn up in other works by David this painting you can see a peacock, de Coninck. a parrot, rabbits, guinea pigs and