British Modernism: social change and environmentalism

August 2, 2016 Objectives & Standards

Student-led exploration

1. Research time period

What were the events in Europe/Britain between 1880-1940? Why might artists feel the need to reject the past? What were they hopeful about?

CCSS Writing 7.2 & 8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. 7th & 8th grades

Audience, Paper, pencil; research tools (computer/encyclopedia, materials, history books); art supplies timing (optional); AV equipment 2 class periods Background

British Modernism (1880-1940) is characterized by a “rejection of history and conservative values (such as realistic depiction of subjects); innovation and experimentation with form (the shapes, colours and lines that make up the work) with a tendency to abstraction; and an emphasis on materials, techniques and processes.” Also driven by various social and political agendas, Modernist artists were often utopian, the movement was generally associated with ideal visions of human life and society and a belief in progress. http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online- resources/glossary/m/modernism

Dr. James Fox, Art Historian:

YouTube video “British Masters” episode 1, first 30 minutes explains the beginning of Modernism (and end of Edwardian era). Dr. James Fox describes artists Walter Richard Sickert, Wyndham Lewis, Edward Wadsworth and David Bomberg, comparing the various attitudes and subjects of these artists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=- jUsdN1HKLk Artist Biographies

Adrian Paul Allison (1890- 1959) and Stanley Spencer (1891-1959) were friends in the same circle in art school at the Slade School of Fine Art. After graduation, Allison studied in Munich and Paris, was a pacifist during WWI, and after the war travelled, painting landscapes and subject across Europe. He was commissioned to design posters for the London Underground, and during WWII, was selected as a government war artist. (http://spartacus- educational.com/ARTallinson.htm)

According to Dr. James Fox (British Masters, episode 2), Stanley Spencer, created happy, hopeful art after WWI, which is what made his art so unique and modern. He depicted many biblical scenes set in his hometown, Cookham. His themes changed dramatically after a sordid affair and new marriage. He was also an Official War Artists from 1940-41.

Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) was a German-born American painter who loved mountains and was able to explore and paint the rugged West, leading to his immense success until impressionism “turned public taste away from his highly detailed landscapes suffused with golden light.” (http://www.albertbierstadt.org/biography.html) Introduce Modernism time Show Spring in Abruzzi, period and characteristics. Oxfordshire Landscape. and Ask students to research Looking Down Yosemite Valley; ask Writing & drawing (briefly) what was happening students to compare the paintings extension: what real or imagined place do you in England/Europe/ the World (color, subject, purpose). Provide want to preserve? that might influence artists. bio of artists. Could they have Share out findings. been environmentalists?

15 mins 20 mins 10 mins 15 mins 15 mins

Introduce Dr. James Fox, art Watch minutes 21-30. Note historian. Watch minutes 1- artist purpose and 20. characteristics. How are they https://www.youtube.com/wa different from the previous tch?v=-jUsdN1HKLk Students artists? take notes on artist purpose, https://www.youtube.com/wa characteristics. tch?v=-jUsdN1HKLk Spring in the Abruzzi by Adrian Paul Allison

Image Credit: https://www.sbma.net/exhib itions/whistlerwwii Oxfordshire Landscape by Stanley Spencer

Image Credit: http://www.wikiart .org/en/stanley- spencer/oxfordsh ire-landscape- 1939?utm_sourc e=returned&utm_ medium=referral &utm_campaign= referral Extension

1. Choose a place (real or imagined) they want to Further Discussion: celebrate and preserve. How do Allison and Spencer’s landscapes compare to 2. Draw a representation of it AND write an the art explored in the video? Are they more similar to explanatory description of it. the first artists (Lewis, Sickert, Wadsworth) or with Bomberg? And why? 3. Include a thesis statement, reasons for preserving it and vivid description of the place.

Looking Down Yosemite Valley by Albert Bierstadt

Image Credit: https://en.wikipe dia.org/wiki/Look ing_Down_Yose mite_Valley,_Ca lifornia#/media/F ile:Looking_Dow n_Yosemite- Valley.jpg