Adventures in Art History Art Adventures    

Lesson 23: Wheat Field with Crows

by Vincent van Gogh

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Vincent van Gogh's 'Wheat Field with Crows' shows three paths cutting through a golden field of wheat. A turbulent sky churns in shades of blue above. A murder of crows soars over the wheat, although it is unclear whether they are flying toward or away from the viewer. Crows have been called 'messengers of death' and associated with change and magic. In ancient Egypt, crows were a symbol of undying love, because they are monogamous by nature.

Vocabulary

Crow: A large bird with mostly glossy black feathers.
Wheat: A cereal plant, the grain of which is ground to make flour.
Field: An area of open land.
Path: A way or track laid down for walking or made by continual treading.
Murder: A group of crows.

Concepts

Vincent van Gogh painted 'Wheat Field with Crows.'

1. Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands. See his picture below.

2. Find Van Gogh's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. Van Gogh mostly taught himself how to paint. Van Gogh stated, 'Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see.'
4. Although he is famous now and his works are worth millions of dollars, he was poor and unknown while alive. Van Gogh had a tough time in life. He suffered from mental illness and spent time in an asylum.
5. Van Gogh is reputed to have cut off his own ear, although some historians now believe he might have lied to protect his friend and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin, who may have cut Van Gogh's ear off with a sword during an argument.
6. Van Gogh died in 1890 at the age of 37 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Crows
• Wheat
• Clouds
• Sky
• Three Paths

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

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

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 30 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is the setting of the painting?

1 / 5

Answer 1

Outside in a wheat field.

1 / 5

Question 2

What do you see in the sky of the painting?

2 / 5

Answer 2

Crows flying, some clouds.

2 / 5

Question 3

How many paths do you see cut through the wheat?

3 / 5

Answer 3

Three.

3 / 5

Question 4

Which way do you think the crows are flying?

4 / 5

Answer 4

Answers vary, but the crows are either flying toward or away from the viewer.

4 / 5

Question 5

Look at the three paths. If you had to take one, which would you take?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Answers vary.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. What is the setting of the painting? Outside in a wheat field.
2. What do you see in the sky of the painting? Crows flying, some clouds.
3. How many paths do you see cut through the wheat? Three.
4. Which way do you think the crows are flying? Answers vary, but the crows are either flying toward or away from the viewer.
5. Look at the three paths. If you had to take one, which would you take? Answers vary.

References

'Vincent van Gogh.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.