Genres of Paintings Painting Genres    

Lesson 25: Space Art - Viking Orbiter

by Donald Davis

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 genre.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Donald Davis' 'Viking Orbiter' shows an unmanned space probe near the planet Mars in 1975. The space probe was shot into space atop a rocket, traveled to Mars, orbited around the planet, and took pictures to figure out a good place to land. The orbiter carried a lander, which traveled down to land upon the Martian surface to take pictures and measurements. The painting shows the lander detached from the orbiter, ready to travel down to the reddish, cratered surface of Mars. Note how Mars is half in shadow and half in sunlight, just like the earth. Also note the white polar ice caps on Mars.

Vocabulary

Mars: The second smallest planet in our solar system and fourth planet from the sun.
Martian: Relating to the planet Mars or its supposed inhabitants.
Unmanned: Not having or needing a crew or staff.
Probe: An unmanned exploratory spacecraft designed to transmit information about its environment.
Rocket: A cylindrical projectile that can be propelled to a great height or distance by the combustion of its contents, used typically as a firework or signal.
Orbit: The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.
Lander: A spacecraft designed to land on the surface of a planet or moon.

Concepts

1. Space art paintings attempt to capture the majesty of the universe.
2. Space art paintings feature outer space, stars, planets, comets, asteroids, spaceships, probes, and astronauts.
3. Space art is one of the newest genres, although paintings containing elements of astronomy, such as views of the night sky from the earth, have existed for centuries.
4. History paintings may also be called 'astronomical art.'
5. Select types of space art paintings include, 1) Descriptive Realism (attempt to show a scientifically accurate view), 2) Cosmic Impressionism (does not attempt to be scientifically accurate), 3) Hardware Art (focuses on spaceships and probes), and 4) Cosmic Zoology (Portrays ideas about what extraterrestrial life might look like).
6. See below examples of four subgenres of space art paintings: 1) Lucien Rudaux's 'Lunar Eclipse' (Descriptive Realism), 2) 5arah's' 'Galaxy in a Nut' (Cosmic Impressionism), 3) Rick Guidice's 'Artist's depiction of a pair of O'Neill cylinders' (Hardware Art), and 4) 'Alien Light Atmosphere' by Kalhh (Cosmic Zoology).

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Zoom in to find the following in the artwork:

• Mars
• Nighttime on Mars
• Daytime on Mars
• Viking Orbiter
• Something Unmanned
• Lander
• Craters
• Sunlight
• Ice Caps
• Stars
• American Flag

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 on the map of the solar system and find both Earth and Mars.
• Which planet is larger - Earth or Mars?
• With respect to other planets, is Mars close to Earth or far away?

Activity 4: Color Mars, the Earth, and the Moon   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 51 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 5: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 52 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 6

Answer 1

There are no human characters in the painting, as the probe is unmanned.

1 / 6

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The setting is in outer space near the planet Mars.

2 / 6

Question 3

What disguises are the Sons of Liberty wearing?

3 / 6

Answer 3

The Sons of Liberty are dressed as American Indians.

3 / 6

Question 4

What is the mission of the Viking Orbiter?

4 / 6

Answer 4

The mission of the Viking Orbiter is to land an unmanned lander to study the surface of Mars.

4 / 6

Question 5

Into which genre is this painting classified?

5 / 6

Answer 5

This painting falls into the space art genre.

5 / 6

Question 6

Is the portrait best described as a descriptive realism, cosmic impressionism, hardware art, and/or cosmic zoology space art painting?

6 / 6

Answer 6

This painting might be described as both descriptive realism and hardware art.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? There are no human characters in the painting, as the probe is unmanned.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is in outer space near the planet Mars.
3. What disguises are the Sons of Liberty wearing? The Sons of Liberty are dressed as American Indians.
4. What is the mission of the Viking Orbiter? The mission of the Viking Orbiter is to land an unmanned lander to study the surface of Mars.
5. Into which genre is this painting classified? This painting falls into the space art genre.
6. Is the portrait best described as a descriptive realism, cosmic impressionism, hardware art, and/or cosmic zoology space art painting? This painting might be described as both descriptive realism and hardware art.

References

'Space Art.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Viking Orbiter.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.