The Arts · Grade 9 · Art in Context: History and Criticism · Term 2

Post-Impressionism and Symbolism

Exploring artists who pushed beyond Impressionism, emphasizing emotional expression and symbolic meaning.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• VA:Cn11.1.HSII
• VA:Re7.2.HSII

About This Topic

Post-Impressionism and Symbolism represent a pivotal shift in art history, moving beyond the Impressionists' focus on capturing fleeting moments of light and color. Artists like Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne sought to imbue their work with deeper emotional resonance and personal expression. They experimented with bold, often non-naturalistic colors, distorted forms, and expressive brushwork to convey subjective experiences and inner feelings. This period laid the groundwork for many 20th-century art movements.

Symbolism, closely related, saw artists using visual metaphors and evocative imagery to explore spiritual, psychological, and philosophical ideas. They moved away from direct representation, aiming instead to suggest deeper meanings and universal truths. Think of Gauguin's Tahitian scenes, which blend observation with myth and personal symbolism, or Van Gogh's swirling skies that reflect his turbulent inner world. These artists believed art could communicate profound concepts that words could not.

Active learning is particularly beneficial here because it allows students to move beyond passive observation and engage directly with the expressive qualities of these artworks. Through hands-on creation and critical analysis, students can begin to understand the intentionality behind the artists' choices in color, form, and subject matter.

Key Questions

1. Compare the use of color in Impressionism versus Post-Impressionism.
2. Explain how Symbolist artists conveyed abstract ideas through visual metaphors.
3. Critique how artists like Van Gogh and Gauguin used personal experience to inform their work.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Post-Impressionist colors are just 'wrong' or poorly applied.

What to Teach Instead

Students often expect naturalistic color. Through activities where they experiment with non-naturalistic color themselves, they can appreciate how artists used color expressively and symbolically, rather than purely descriptively. This hands-on practice helps them see the intent behind the choices.

Common Misconception

Symbolist art is random or nonsensical.

What to Teach Instead

Symbolism relies on shared cultural understanding and personal association. By having students create their own symbols for abstract concepts, they begin to grasp the deliberate process of visual communication and the potential for ambiguity and multiple interpretations inherent in symbolic art.

Active Learning Ideas

Color Study: Emotional Palette

Students select a strong emotion (joy, anger, melancholy) and create a small painting or drawing using only colors they associate with that emotion, mimicking Post-Impressionist color choices. They then write a brief artist statement explaining their color decisions.

60 min·Individual

Symbol Creation: Visual Metaphor

In small groups, students brainstorm abstract ideas (e.g., freedom, isolation, hope) and then design a personal symbol to represent each idea, inspired by Symbolist artists. They present their symbols and explain their visual language to the class.

50 min·Small Groups

Comparative Analysis: Brushwork and Emotion

Students analyze high-resolution images of works by Van Gogh and an Impressionist painter side-by-side. They identify differences in brushstroke application and discuss how these techniques contribute to the emotional impact of each piece.

45 min·Pairs

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Post-Impressionism differ from Impressionism?

While Impressionism focused on capturing the fleeting visual impression of a moment, particularly light and color, Post-Impressionism moved towards greater personal expression, emotional depth, and symbolic meaning. Artists explored structure, form, and subjective experience, often using bolder colors and more defined lines than their Impressionist predecessors.

What is the role of symbolism in art?

Symbolism uses images or objects to represent abstract ideas or qualities. Artists employ symbols to convey deeper meanings, emotions, or spiritual concepts that might be difficult to express directly. This allows for a richer, more layered interpretation of the artwork, inviting viewers to engage with its underlying messages.

How can analyzing brushwork help understand emotion in art?

The way an artist applies paint, thickly or thinly, smoothly or with visible strokes, can directly convey energy, mood, and intensity. For example, Van Gogh's energetic, swirling brushstrokes communicate a sense of movement and emotional turmoil, while smoother, more blended strokes might suggest calmness or detachment.

Why is active learning effective for teaching Post-Impressionism and Symbolism?

Engaging in activities like creating emotional color studies or designing personal symbols allows students to directly experience the expressive and symbolic intentions of these artists. This hands-on approach moves beyond theoretical understanding, helping students internalize how color, form, and imagery can communicate subjective experiences and abstract ideas.