Post-Impressionism and Symbolism

Post-Impressionism and Symbolism invite students to explore the subjective nature of art. Active learning strategies encourage them to move beyond passive observation and engage directly with the expressive qualities of color, form, and symbolism, fostering a deeper, more personal understanding of this pivotal art period.

• Grade 9
• The Arts
• 3 activities
• 45 min–60 min

Ready-to-Use Activities

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 60 min·Individual

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.

Prepare & details

Compare the use of color in Impressionism versus Post-Impressionism.

Facilitation Tip: During the Case Study Analysis of Post-Impressionism, guide students to identify specific artistic choices that deviate from Impressionism and discuss the potential emotional or symbolic impact of these choices.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

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.

Prepare & details

Explain how Symbolist artists conveyed abstract ideas through visual metaphors.

Facilitation Tip: In Hexagonal Thinking, encourage students to draw connections between abstract concepts, artistic techniques, and specific artworks, looking for how ideas link together in a web rather than a linear sequence.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 45 min·Pairs

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.

Prepare & details

Critique how artists like Van Gogh and Gauguin used personal experience to inform their work.

Facilitation Tip: For the 'Color Study: Emotional Palette' activity, prompt students to verbally justify their color choices by connecting them to the chosen emotion, reinforcing the link between non-naturalistic color and expression.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Teaching This Topic

Teachers effectively introduce Post-Impressionism and Symbolism by framing it as a deliberate move toward personal expression and meaning. Avoid simply listing artists and dates; instead, focus on the 'why' behind their innovations, emphasizing how they pushed artistic boundaries to communicate internal states and complex ideas.

What to Expect

Successful learning means students can articulate how Post-Impressionist and Symbolist artists used formal elements like color and line to convey emotion and ideas, not just visual reality. They will demonstrate this by analyzing artworks and creating their own expressive visual statements.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the 'Color Study: Emotional Palette' activity, watch for students who struggle to move beyond naturalistic color, labeling their non-naturalistic choices as 'wrong'.

What to Teach Instead

Redirect students by asking them to explain how their chosen colors relate to the specific emotion they are trying to convey, emphasizing that the goal is expressive, not descriptive, color.

Common Misconception

During the 'Symbol Creation: Visual Metaphor' activity, observe students who create symbols that appear random or lack clear meaning.

What to Teach Instead

Prompt groups to discuss the abstract concept they are symbolizing and ask how their visual elements (shape, line, color) specifically represent aspects of that concept, encouraging them to articulate the intentionality behind their design.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After the 'Comparative Analysis: Brushwork and Emotion' activity, ask students to complete a quick check where they identify one key difference in brushwork between the Post-Impressionist and Impressionist examples and explain how it contributes to a different emotional effect.

Peer Assessment

During the 'Symbol Creation: Visual Metaphor' activity, facilitate a peer assessment where groups present their symbols and other groups provide feedback on the clarity and effectiveness of the visual metaphor, referencing the abstract concept it represents.

Exit Ticket

As an exit ticket after the 'Color Study: Emotional Palette', have students write one sentence explaining how their color choices aimed to communicate a specific emotion, connecting their artistic decision to the intended feeling.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to research another Post-Impressionist or Symbolist artist not discussed and write a short analysis of how their work aligns with or diverges from the core characteristics explored.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence starters or a graphic organizer for students struggling to articulate their analysis during the Case Study or Comparative Analysis activities.
• Deeper Exploration: Have students explore the philosophical or literary influences on Symbolist artists, such as Baudelaire or Mallarmé, and connect these ideas to specific artworks.