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Lesson Plans—Activities
Cities and Regions in Art

Discussion and Research

Cities
The city and its inhabitants were popular subjects for impressionist artists. They liked to portray ordinary aspects of life in these urban environments. Discuss the role of the city in each of the following works of art: Degas’s Little Dancer, Signac’s Quay at Clichy, Rousseau’s View of the Quay d’Ivry near the Port à l’Anglais, Seine (Family Fishing), Monet’s Charing Cross Bridge. Discuss how the city is portrayed in art and popular culture today.

Regions
Find the following cities mentioned in the descriptions of works of art on a map of France: Paris, Auvers-sur-Oise, Saint-Rémy, Arles, Nice and Giverny. Identify the region or province each city is located in, and note regional landmarks and characteristics. Compare the southern regions of the Côte d’Azur and Provence to the Parisian region of Ile-de-France. The climate, landscape and cultural traditions can be very different. Identify which artists worked in these regions (Van Gogh in Provence, Matisse in Côte d’Azur). Research other famous artists who worked in regions throughout France.

Create an exhibition
Give each student a disposable camera to take photographs of everyday aspects of their town, city or region, including some of the people they encounter. Develop these photographs and create an exhibition. Have students select photographs for the exhibition, write wall labels, install the works and invite members of the community to visit the exhibition.

Web sites to try:
http://www.provence.guideweb.com/activ/index.php3 (French or English version)
http://www.provenceweb.fr/ (for Provence and Côte d’Azur; French or English version)
http://www.enprovence.com/index2.html (French)
http://www.beyond.fr/ (Provence and Côte d’Azur; English)