Une Visite guidée

Set-up:

Bring reproductions of paintings to class. I bring post cards because the size is uniform and I have many. I try to use French paintings. Don't be afraid of bringing an abstract painting or two, especially if you have art history majors or especially creative thinkers in the class.

Instructions:

Students form groups of three. Hand out a post card at random to each group, along with the instruction sheet below. [You may want to fine-tune this form to reinforce grammar and vocabulary you've been studying. You can simplify it for 100-level classes, sticking to weather, seasons and mood, for example.] Be sure to give a time limit and to monitor progress.

Presentation:

Groups select a spokesperson. Project images one by one on Elmo if you can. If you do this, choose the cards at random. Students are more alert if they don't know when there turn will come up. If you don't have access to Elmo, tape the cards on the walls of the room and physically tour the "museum" as students comment on the paintings.

Follow-up:

The description students co-write in groups serves as an excellent first draft of an individually written composition. Be sure to assign specific tasks for editing language and expanding content and style.

Introduction:

Voici ________________________________ (titre)

de ___________________________________ (artiste).

C'est un/e _____________________________ (genre) qui date du _____________
siècle.
 

Description (2-4 phrases):

Pour décrire votre tabeau considérez les questions suivantes. (Consultez la feuille de
vocabulaire utile):

• Y a-t-il beaucoup de personnes représentées?

• Que font les personnes?

• Les personnes, semblent-elles être importantes? Pourquoi ou pourquoi pas?

• Elles ont l'air __________________.

• Quel est le rapport entre les personnes?

• Quels sont les objets représentés?

• Quel est le rapport entre les objets? Entre les objets et les personnes?

Style, composition, couleurs (2-4 phrases):

• Quelles couleurs dominent le tableau?

• Comment sont les couleurs? (vives, légères, clairs, sombres, etc.)

• Y a-t-il des formes qui se répètent? (des formes rondes, carrées, géométriques, etc.)

Interpretation et appréciation (2-4 phrases):

• Y a-t-il un rapport entre le sujet représenté et le style?

• Est-ce que cette oeuvre semble raconter une histore, ou exprimer un sentiment, une idée?

Cheryl Krueger
University of Virginia