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Lesson Plans—Activities
Women and Art: Seen but Not Heard?

There are no works by female artists in this exhibition. However, works of art collected by the sisters Claribel and Etta Cone make up a large part of Matisse, Picasso and the School of Paris. Their friend, the well-known writer Gertrude Stein, introduced them to Matisse and Picasso. Many works such as Degas’s Little Dancer, Picasso’s Woman with Bangs, and Matisse’s Large Reclining Nude and Seated Odalisque are depictions of women. Degas and Matisse used models in these paintings. Women may also act as muses, inspiring artists to create.

Consider the differences between women like the Cone sisters and the models in terms of social status, income and lifestyle. Examine thoughts and attitudes the individuals would have about each other. Write a narrative from a first-person or third-person viewpoint or a dramatic scene that explores the dynamics of relationships and interactions among collectors/patrons, artists and models.

If writing a dramatic scene, follow up by staging a production of the scene complete with set design, costuming and student actors.

Research Avenues

The Cone sisters:

• http://www.artbma.org/collection/cone/index.html
• Gertrude Stein: Stein’s Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas or biographical information (search msn Encarta)

Models and muses:

• Greek Mythology and historical figures, i.e., Pygmalian, Zeuxis selecting his models
• Popular fiction, i.e., Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring