Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 21: Rayonism - Yellow and Green Forest (1913)

by Natalia Goncharova

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The next four lessons introduce a short-lived but unique art movement called rayonism, occurring circa 1911-1914. Rayonism sought to show objects not precisely as they appear to the eye, but rather the rays of light reflecting off the objects. Russian avant-garde artist Natalia Goncharova painted the featured rayonist work, 'Yellow and Green Forest,' in 1913. As you examine the painting of the yellow and green forest, we see not the actual physical objects, but rather the intangible emanating colored rays of light.

Vocabulary

Rayonism: An early 20th century avant-garde art movement that sought to show objects not as they appeared, but as the rays of light reflecting off the objects.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Rayonism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1909-1914

Movement Characteristics:

1. Represented objects as the light reflecting off them
2. Dynamic and contrasting use of color
3. Crossing lines
4. Note the rays of light, contrasting colors, and crossing lines in Natalia Goncharova's rayonist 'Electric Lamp' (1913)

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Landscapes - 'Green Forest' (1911) by Natalia Goncharova

2. Animal Art - 'Rooster and Hen' (1910) by Mikhail Larionov

3. Still Lifes - 'Rayonist Sausages and Mackerel' (1912) by Mikhail Larionov

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Ray of Light
• Crossing Rays of Light
• Yellows
• Greens
• Browns
• Whites

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

• Zoom in and find Goncharova's country of birth (Russia) on the map of Europe.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the rayonism art movement.
• Find rayonism on the timeline.
• During which approximate years did rayonism flourish?
• Which art movement followed rayonism?

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 24 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is rayonism?

1 / 6

Answer 1

Rayonism is an early 20th century avant-garde art movement that sought to show objects not as they appeared, but as the rays of light reflecting off the objects.

1 / 6

Question 2

What happens in the artwork?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The artwork depicts a yellow and green forest.

2 / 6

Question 3

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

3 / 6

Answer 3

The artwork falls into the landscape genre.

3 / 6

Question 4

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

4 / 6

Answer 4

This painting belongs to the rayonism art movement.

4 / 6

Question 5

How does the artwork serve as an example of rayonism?

5 / 6

Answer 5

The painting shows the reflection of light off objects versus the objects themselves as characteristic of rayonism.

5 / 6

Question 6

During which century was this artwork created?

6 / 6

Answer 6

This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1913).

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. What is rayonism? Rayonism is an early 20th century avant-garde art movement that sought to show objects not as they appeared, but as the rays of light reflecting off the objects.
2. What happens in the artwork? The artwork depicts a yellow and green forest.
3. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork falls into the landscape genre.
4. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the rayonism art movement.
5. How does the artwork serve as an example of rayonism? The painting shows the reflection of light off objects versus the objects themselves as characteristic of rayonism.
6. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the early 20th century (1913).

References

'Rayonism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Natalia Goncharova.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.