Synopsis: This is a visually attractive and highly useable book, of value to teachers who have no background in Fine Art or Art History, and small enough for young hands to handle in the classroom. It looks at ways of picturing families in town and country from the 1600s up to the present.

Review: In making images of families, artists choose to depict them in particular colours, settings, groups and poses to show something special about their relationships. Illustrations cover topics such as babies; mothers; fathers; brothers and sisters; life and death; a family celebration. Artists used include: Rubens, David Hockney, Henry Moore, Stanley Spencer, Mary Cassatt, Renoir, Peale, Gaugin, Matisse, Munch, Ford Maddox Brown and Jan Steen.

This book is picture perfect for use in the primary classroom when studying Art. Some pictures are annotated to guide the viewer into a close observation of the stories behind the families depicted e.g. Baby’s Birthday (1867) leads the eye to every important detail, such as colour, setting, poses and grouping, mood and atmosphere. Questions outlined in short paragraphs, together with bold subheadings, encourage reflective thinking e.g. under True Country Life? the reader is asked if they think this is a real representation of country living for the poor and provides a context for further discussion and close reading of the visual text.

Trainee teachers felt this was one of their favourites in this lively and accessible series - the others being 'Action! Movement in Art' and 'Telling Tales: Stories in Art.' Most felt it would link well to Strand 4 of the ARt and Design curriculum: Knowledge and Understanding 4c) the roles and purposes of artists... in different times and cultures and 4a: pupils should be taught about visual and tactile elements, including colour, pattern and texture, line and tone, shape, form and space.'

For more details see: http://www.waylinks.co.uk/series/artventure/

Buy this Book

2008-06-18