Genres of Paintings Painting Genres    

Lesson 36: Wildlife - Surprised

by Henri Rousseau

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

In French wildlife artist Henri Rousseau's expressionist painting, 'Surprised,' a wide-eyed tiger crouches to attack its prey. What is the tiger's prey? We don't know, since the prey hides outside the view of the painting. Rain and lightning pound down from the tumultuous sky. The jungle leaves and grasses whip in the wind. This painting is also known as 'Tiger in a Tropical Storm.'

Vocabulary

Wildlife: Wild animals collectively; the native fauna (and sometimes flora) of a region.
Expressionist: A style of painting, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world.
Jungle: Resembling the tropics, especially in being very hot and humid with lush vegetation.
Prey: An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.

Concepts

1. Wildlife art features animals in a variety of settings.
2. Wildlife art is also sometimes called 'animal painting.'
3. Wildlife art is historically not a respected type of painting.
4. See below a rank-order list of the hierarchy of genres, from least respected to most respected.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Zoom in to find the following in the artwork:

• Wide Eyes
• Something Surprising its Prey
• Trunk
• Foliage
• Three Lightning Bolts
• Broad, Green Leaves
• Something Falling

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 to find France, the home country of the artist.

Activity 4: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 67 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 5: Create A Wildlife Art Drawing   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 68 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'
• Using crayons, color pencils, pastels, or paint, create a wildlife art drawing or painting.
• Beforehand, discuss the types of wildlife and setting for your artwork.

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 4

Answer 1

There are no human characters, but the tiger might be considered the main character. The unseen prey is the other character.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is outdoors in a jungle location.

2 / 4

Question 3

How do we know the setting is in a jungle?

3 / 4

Answer 3

We know of the jungle setting because of the lush vegetation and the presence of a tiger.

3 / 4

Question 4

Into which genre is this painting classified?

4 / 4

Answer 4

This painting falls into the wildlife art (or animal painting) category.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? There are no human characters, but the tiger might be considered the main character. The unseen prey is the other character.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outdoors in a jungle location.
3. How do we know the setting is in a jungle? We know of the jungle setting because of the lush vegetation and the presence of a tiger.
4. Into which genre is this painting classified? This painting falls into the wildlife art (or animal painting) category.

References

'Animal Painter.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Hierarchy of genres.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.