Appendix – Painting and creative work in school

  • Pilot implementation (detailed example with lesson/activity plan), and attachments – Painting and creative work in school

    The paintings used, with descriptions and suggested questions.

    Picnic in May (1873) This painting marked the end of Szinyei’s first artistic period.It was created in the studio, not outdoors.Szinyei himself is in the picture (the man lying on his stomach with his back to us, symbolically turning his back on critics).Suggested questions: What colours do you see in the painting? (lots of green; the people – red, burgundy – blend well into the green grass) What are they doing? Do you think they are friends? Is the painter in the picture? If yes, which one do you think he is? Do you also go on picnics or hikes?
    Lady in Violet (1874) His wife posed as the model.The colours are not very vibrant.The landscape was partly painted from memory.This was also created in the studio.The trees cast shadows on the woman.Interestingly, the dress was sewn by the painter’s wife, Zsófia Probstner.Suggested questions: What are the colours like in the painting? (darker, the dress itself is also dark) Who do you think is in the picture? How do you think she feels? (She was distressed because she didn’t like posing and was pregnant with their first child, making the dress tight.) Have you ever drawn a family member or friend?
    The Ballon (1882) He painted his brother-in-law’s balloon.He was fascinated by flight.With this balloon, Szinyei’s brother-in-law travelled across Europe and parts of Asia, even settling in Japan for a while.The airship can symbolize many things: longing, the soaring of creativity, artistic freedom.Suggested questions: What colours does the airship have? (white and red, warm and cool contrast) Where is it located? (flying, but still close to the ground) Who might be waving from the basket? (Szinyei’s brother-in-law) Where can you still see this balloon today? Have you ever flown before?
    Skylark (1882) Most of the painting is sky (about 3/4 of it).The blue and green colours next to each other almost vibrate.The lady is looking at the skylark soaring in the sky (a contrast between freedom and being earthbound).This was also painted in the studio.Suggested questions: What colours dominate the painting and which colour is more abundant? Why do you think there is bluer? (it symbolizes freedom) The painting’s title is Skylark, but where is the bird? Have you ever seen a skylark? Have you heard its song? Do you have a favourite bird?
    Meadow with Poppies (1902) The green and red contrast also creates a vibrating effect.Although the poppies are small, they dominate the painting.The focus is not only on the flowers but also on the path next to them.Suggested questions: What kind of flowers are in the painting? Colores opposite each other on the colour wheel are complementary colours, such as orange-blue, lemon-purple, green red. Do you see any of these in the painting? What effect does using such contrasts have? (It makes the painting vibrate.)