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Artworks that Show Space

Inside: A curated collection of artworks that exemplify the use of space in art—demonstrating how artists create depth, perspective, and a sense of environment. This resource is part of our comprehensive Elements and Principles of Art series, designed to support and inspire your art lessons.

Space is a fundamental element that helps convey depth and dimension in art. Whether through perspective, overlapping, or the use of positive and negative areas, artists manipulate space to guide the viewer’s eye and create a sense of realism or abstraction.

In this post, you’ll find a variety of artworks showcasing different techniques to represent space, perfect for sparking discussion and analysis in your classroom.

👉 Want a printable to accompany these examples? Grab the free Elements & Principles Pack below. Just click the yellow Download button.

Free Resource!

* Elements & Principles Printable Pack *

The Elements & Principles of Art are the foundation of every artwork, but teaching them can be a bore. Wake your students up and engage them with full color artworks, easy to understand definitions, and thought-provoking higher level thinking questions. This versatile resource can be hung in the classroom or used as an art manipulative.

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Explore the full Elements of Art series for more resources and examples to enrich your curriculum.

For ready-to-use classroom activities, check out our printable art interpretation worksheets.

It’s Elements and Principles of Art time again! I’ve been working my way through all of the elements and principles of art in order to give you a one-stop resource to find great example artworks for each element and principle. So far, I’ve completed Line, Color, Shape, Balance, and Emphasis.

Today, we tackle Space. First, check out this other post I wrote about space last year. Then, check out the below list.

I will add to this list when I find more, so this is a good one to pin or bookmark! The horizontal picture collages do not have all the pictures from the categories.

Please note, this post includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Download the Free Elements and Principles Printable Pack


This pack of printables was designed to work in a variety of ways in your classroom when teaching the elements and principles of art. You can print and hang in your classroom as posters/anchor charts or you can cut each element and principle of art in its own individual card to use as a lesson manipulative.

Examples of Space in Art

The Art Curator for Kids -Artworks that Show Space - Vast Space and Overlapping

Space in Art Examples: Vast/Open Space

Artworks that Show Space using Overlapping

The Art Curator for Kids -Artworks that Show Space - Relative Size and Vertical Position on the Picture Place

Space in Art Examples: Relative Size

Artworks that Show Space using Vertical Position on the Picture Plane

The Art Curator for Kids -Artworks that Show Space - Flat Space and Foreshortening

Artworks with Flat/Shallow Space

Artworks with Foreshortening

The Art Curator for Kids -Artworks that Show Space - Linear Perspective

Artworks with Linear Perspective

Artworks with Multipoint (2+) Perspective

The Art Curator for Kids -Artworks that Show Space - Aerial Perspective and Isometric Projection

Space in Art Examples: Atmospheric/Aerial Perspective

Space in Art Examples: Isometric Projection/Perspective

Space in Art Examples: Amplified/Exaggerated Perspective

The Art Curator for Kids -Artworks that Show Space - Positive and Negative Space

Positive and Negative Space in Art

Remember I will add to this, so don’t forget to pin this post! 🙂

💡 Looking for more comprehensive art appreciation resources?

Join the Curated Connections Library to access a wealth of lessons, activities, and professional development materials tailored for art educators.
👉 Learn more here

Do you have a great example to teach space? Share it with me in the comments, and I will add it to the list!

There you have it! The best space in art examples for your elements and principles of art lessons. Want more elements and principles of art teacher resources? Check out the below posts.

Elements and Principles Teaching Bundle

This extraordinary bundle includes the best resources for teaching each of the elements and principles—37 worksheets/handouts, 15 lessons (with accompanying PowerPoints and Handouts), 3 ready-to-go art analysis activities, 3 art analysis videos, and 13 elements and principle PDF articles.

Buy Now

For more elements and principles of art examples, visit the following resources:

The Art Curator for Kids -Example Artworks that Show Space - The Elements and Principles of Art Series-300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Line - The Elements and Principles of Art - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis - The Elements and Principles of Art SeriesElements and Principles of Art - Artworks that Show Proportion in art and ScaleThe Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Why I Hate the Elements and Principles But Teach Them Anyway - 300The Art Curator for Kids - How Artists Depict Space - Masterpiece Monday - John Sloan , South Beach Bathers, 1907-1908, Art Lessons for Kids - Elements of Art Lessons

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The Best Examples of Emphasis in Art

Inside: A curated collection of artworks that exemplify emphasis in art—showcasing how artists draw attention to focal points through contrast, placement, color, and more. This resource is part of our comprehensive Elements and Principles of Art series, designed to support and inspire your art lessons.

Emphasis is a powerful principle that guides the viewer’s eye to the most important parts of an artwork. Whether it’s a bold color contrast, strategic placement, or unique texture, artists use emphasis to tell a story and convey meaning.

In this post, you’ll find a variety of artworks demonstrating different techniques of emphasis, perfect for sparking discussion and analysis in your classroom.

👉 Want a printable to accompany these examples? Grab the free Elements & Principles Pack below. Just click the yellow “Download” button.

Free Resource!

* Elements & Principles Printable Pack *

The Elements & Principles of Art are the foundation of every artwork, but teaching them can be a bore. Wake your students up and engage them with full color artworks, easy to understand definitions, and thought-provoking higher level thinking questions. This versatile resource can be hung in the classroom or used as an art manipulative.

Download

It was hard to break this one down to categories, because chances are if the artwork shows emphasis well, it usually used more than one element or principle to do so. So, I have put the elements and principles of art that the artist used to show emphasis in art in parenthesis next to the artwork.

Explore the full Elements of Art series for more resources and examples to enrich your curriculum.

For ready-to-use classroom activities, check out our printable art interpretation worksheets.

Download the Free Elements and Principles Printable Pack


This pack of printables was designed to work in a variety of ways in your classroom when teaching the elements and principles of art. You can print and hang in your classroom as posters/anchor charts or you can cut each element and principle of art in its own individual card to use as a lesson manipulative.

Emphasis in Art Examples

The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis in Art - The Elements and Principles of Art Series
The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis in Art - The Elements and Principles of Art Series
The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis in Art - The Elements and Principles of Art Series
The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis in Art - The Elements and Principles of Art Series

💡 Looking for more comprehensive art appreciation resources?

Join the Curated Connections Library to access a wealth of lessons, activities, and professional development materials tailored for art educators.
👉 Learn more here

Elements and Principles Teaching Bundle

This extraordinary bundle includes the best resources for teaching each of the elements and principles—37 worksheets/handouts, 15 lessons (with accompanying PowerPoints and Handouts), 3 ready-to-go art analysis activities, 3 art analysis videos, and 13 elements and principle PDF articles.

Buy Now

There you have it! The best emphasis in art examples for your elements and principles of art lessons. Want more elements and principles of art examples? Check out the below posts.

The Art Curator for Kids -Example Artworks that Show Space - The Elements and Principles of Art Series-300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Line - The Elements and Principles of Art - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis - The Elements and Principles of Art SeriesElements and Principles of Art - Artworks that Show Proportion in art and ScaleThe Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Why I Hate the Elements and Principles But Teach Them Anyway - 300The Art Curator for Kids - How Artists Depict Space - Masterpiece Monday - John Sloan , South Beach Bathers, 1907-1908, Art Lessons for Kids - Elements of Art Lessons

Photo Credits:

  • Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne — Int3gr4te
  • Borofsky’s Walking to the Sky — doreen

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Artworks that Use Shape

Shape is one of the most accessible elements of art—students can see it immediately, but helping them understand it on a deeper level opens up a whole new way of seeing.

In this post, you’ll find artworks that demonstrate shape in all its forms, ready to support your next elements of art lesson, critique, or student project.

👉 Want a printable to go with it? Grab the free Elements & Principles Pack below to bring this concept to life in your classroom. Click the yellow “Download” button.

Free Resource!

* Elements & Principles Printable Pack *

The Elements & Principles of Art are the foundation of every artwork, but teaching them can be a bore. Wake your students up and engage them with full color artworks, easy to understand definitions, and thought-provoking higher level thinking questions. This versatile resource can be hung in the classroom or used as an art manipulative.

Download

Inside: A curated collection of artworks that show how artists use shape—from bold geometric compositions to expressive organic forms and powerful uses of negative space.

Explore the full Elements of Art series for more resources and examples to enrich your curriculum.

I’m continuing the Elements and Principles of Art series today with a post that includes example artworks that use shape.

Download the Free Elements and Principles Printable Pack


This pack of printables was designed to work in a variety of ways in your classroom when teaching the elements and principles of art. You can print and hang in your classroom as posters/anchor charts or you can cut each element and principle of art in its own individual card to use as a lesson manipulative.

Shape in Art Examples

The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape1

Example Artworks that Use Shape, General

The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape2

Artworks with Geometric Shape

The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape3

Artworks with Organic or Free-Form Shape

The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape4

Shapes Made by Negative Space

Shapes that Guide your Eye Around the Picture

The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape5

Shapes Used to Organize Picture (Pyramidal Configuration, etc.)

💡 Looking for more comprehensive art appreciation resources?

Join the Curated Connections Library to access a wealth of lessons, activities, and professional development materials tailored for art educators.
👉 Learn more here

The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Use Shape

For ready-to-use classroom activities, check out our printable art interpretation worksheets.

Elements and Principles Teaching Bundle

This extraordinary bundle includes the best resources for teaching each of the elements and principles—37 worksheets/handouts, 15 lessons (with accompanying PowerPoints and Handouts), 3 ready-to-go art analysis activities, 3 art analysis videos, and 13 elements and principle PDF articles.

Buy Now

There you have it! The best shape in art examples for your elements and principles of art lessons. Want more elements and principles of art teacher resources? Check out the below posts.

The Art Curator for Kids -Example Artworks that Show Space - The Elements and Principles of Art Series-300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Line - The Elements and Principles of Art - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis - The Elements and Principles of Art SeriesElements and Principles of Art - Artworks that Show Proportion in art and ScaleThe Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Why I Hate the Elements and Principles But Teach Them Anyway - 300The Art Curator for Kids - How Artists Depict Space - Masterpiece Monday - John Sloan , South Beach Bathers, 1907-1908, Art Lessons for Kids - Elements of Art Lessons

Photo Credits:

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Set Free the Angels: How Carved Sculptures Are Made

When we look at artwork, we can appreciate what we see at face value, even if we don’t know the story behind it or about the artist. We enter the artist’s world by what they’ve chosen to show us, creating a relationship to the artwork in how we respond to it (or don’t).

A great way to begin to connect more deeply with art is to learn how artworks were made. This brings not only a better appreciation of the tools, skills, time, and choices involved, but also a sensory element into our understanding. Here we will look at carved sculpture and think about the relationship between the artist and how they make their art. 

Set Free the Angels: How Carved Sculptures Are Made

Take a look at this Renaissance artwork by Michelangelo, who said that he carved a sculpture to “free” its subject. Focus your looking on the textures of the sculpture. What differences do you see, and how do you think Michelangelo achieved these contrasting textures? Imagine you are Michelangelo carving this sculpture: where would you start?

Michaelangelo, The Awakening Slave (Design for Julius II Tomb), 1536
Michaelangelo, The Awakening Slave (Design for Julius II Tomb), 1536

Facing off with a block of stone  

After spending time looking at the artwork, answer this question: What challenges do you think an artist faced when carving a figure out of a block of stone?

For some fun, write an “I am” character poem from the perspective of the man emerging in this sculpture. Use the following prompts to begin your poem, describing your feelings, actions, frustrations, discoveries:

  • I am…
  • I see…
  • I hear…
  • I feel…
  • I wonder…
  • I want…
  • I am…

Art Appreciation Worksheet Bundle

This art worksheets bundle from the Art Class Curator includes 25 ready-to-use art worksheets for use with individual works of art. The worksheets for art in this document are designed to work with lots of different types of artworks, so you can just pick an artwork, print a worksheet, and start the activity. Each has instructions at the top and plenty of space to do the activity.

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Carving: One of four primary sculpture techniques

There are four primary categories of sculpture: casting, carving, modeling, and assemblage. Each process has its own set of techniques and challenges.

The sculpture above is a carved sculpture. Artists begin with a block of material such as wood or stone and carve and chip material away using a variety of tools such as hammers and chisels. This is called a subtractive process: the artist starts with a certain amount of material and removes it to create the desired form.

Here’s a video from the Science Channel showing some of the processes and tools used in carving marble sculpture.

Michelangelo’s Slaves

I like to use Michelangelo’s slave sculptures to teach about this concept because they show where the artist started and where the artist finished. It’s pretty amazing to think about how the smooth and perfect marble sculptures from Classical and Renaissance art were once just rough stone.

Michelangelo believed that the sculpture was already inside the block of stone, so he chose his stone carefully. It was his job to release the form from the stone.

michelangeloslaves

Think about these questions:

  • What challenges does an artist face when carving from a block of stone?
  • Do you think Michelangelo intended to leave the slave sculptures unfinished or do you think they are only works in progress?
  • How is emotion and feeling conveyed when you see only partial faces? How else is emotion or feeling conveyed?

These sculptures were originally created to be a part of the tomb of Pope Julius II which was to have at least 40 sculptures as a part of it. Due to finances and other reasons, the plans for the tomb changed several times. Michelangelo was pulled away to work on the Sistine Chapel, and these sculptures were eventually abandoned. There is disagreement among scholars as to whether or not the artist intended these to be left unfinished or not.

Another artwork I turn to when teaching about sculpture is Rodin’s Thought Emerging from Matter from about 1895. Rodin was sculpting his student (and love interest) Camille Claudel when he decided to top work on it and leave it as it is.

  • Why do you think he chose to leave it as it was?
  • What do think Camille’s expression conveys? 

This sculpture could be an interesting one to use with my Twitter Perspective activity. In 140 characters or less, what thoughts would Camille send out into the Twittersphere? What hash tags would she use?

Art Appreciation Worksheet Bundle

This art worksheets bundle from the Art Class Curator includes 25 ready-to-use art worksheets for use with individual works of art. The worksheets for art in this document are designed to work with lots of different types of artworks, so you can just pick an artwork, print a worksheet, and start the activity. Each has instructions at the top and plenty of space to do the activity.

Buy Now
auguste_rodin_thought_1901
Auguste Rodin, Thought Emerging From Matter, 1895

Because sculpture is most often 3-dimensional, photographs don’t always do justice to size, textures, changes in different light. Another area to discuss: what is different about seeing a photograph of a 3-dimensional sculpture versus seeing it in “real” 3-D glory?

Classical Sculpture, Ancient Greek, & Ancient Rome Lesson Bundle

In these lessons, students will learn about the art of Ancient Greece & Ancient Rome. Plus, get a complete Classical Sculpture lesson with an interactive activity to empower students to figure out the conventions on their own!

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What is art? 6 Artworks that Help Define Art

A few months ago, I shared with you 6 artworks about other artworks. I love this art about art theme, so I want to keep going with it today. The art about art artworks in this collection are works that help define what art is. They make you think about that ultimate art and aesthetics question, “What is art?“

The Art Curator for Kids - Art About Art - What is art? - 6 Artworks that Help Define Art - Aesthetics Discussion Questions

In my community college classes early in the semester, I have all of these artworks in an “art about art” lesson. I’ll share some of the discussion points and why I put them in this art about art category below. You will see the last question of each question list below is, “What does this artwork tell us about art?” That’s how I tie them all together. I have also divided the class into groups assigning each group one artwork to analyze and then present their ideas to the class.

Grade Level: These artworks and discussion questions are best geared toward high school or college students.

Note: Several of these artworks have nudity. My policy is to not censor on the blog because that is my personal approach, and I leave it up to you as the teacher or parents to decide if you are comfortable with that.

Michelangelo Buonarotti, Slaves, 1513-1516

Michelangelo Buonarotti, Slaves, 1513-16 - Middle Photo Credit-Dada
Michelangelo Buonarotti, Slaves (Atlas, Rebellious, Awakening), 1513-16 (Middle Photo Credit: Dada)

I don’t know if Michelangelo was considering this when he made these artworks, but to me, these sculptures address this art about art theme in two different ways. First, I love how these sculptures show the relationship of the artist to the art. You can see the artist’s hand, and it really shows you how incredibly hard it is to make these sculptures. The contrast of the rough and smooth textures really highlights this.

But, the main reason I chose these artworks is how they show the figures attempting to break free from the stone. Michelangelo famously said, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” And he also said, “The best artist has that thought alone Which is contained within the marble shell; The sculptor’s hand can only break the spell To free the figures slumbering in the stone.” Michelangelo believed the figure was there, and it was his job to release it.

Questions to Ask: What is happening here? What do you notice? What is this sculpture about? Who are these men? What are they doing? Why did Michelangelo choose to depict them this way? What does this sculpture tell us about art?

Edouard Manet, Le Dejeuner sur L’Herbe (Luncheon on the Grass), 1863

Edouard Manet, Le Dejeuner sur L'Herbe (Luncheon on the Grass), 1863
Edouard Manet, Le Dejeuner sur L’Herbe (Luncheon on the Grass), 1863

Nudity is a very common subject in art, but when this painting was first displayed at the Salon des Refusés it was really shocking and controversial? Why? Because, it was normal to have nudes in a mythological or allegorical context, but it was not normal to have a nude woman in a contemporary setting–especially one surrounded by clothed men.

Another dimension to this is the stare by the woman to the viewer. Her looking out at us makes us feel a little voyeuristic in a way. I think it can spark an interesting discussion about the connection between the artwork and the viewer.

Questions to Ask: What is your initial reaction to this picture? How does this painting make you feel? Comfortable? Uncomfortable? Why? What is happening here? How does the artist address gender? Why is the woman looking out at us? What does this painting tell us about art?

René Magritte, The Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe), 1929

René Magritte, The Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe), 1929
René Magritte, The Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe), 1929

The text on this image says, “This is not a pipe.” At first, this is confusing to my students usually. “Yes, it is.” they think. But, when you keep thinking about it, you realize no, it isn’t a pipe. It is a canvas with oil paint on it (or a bunch of pixels of color projected onto the screen on this website). It is not a pipe; it is a picture of a pipe. Ultimately, pictures and words are just symbols for the real thing.

I usually bring in a little bit of Plato’s philosophy into this discussion. Plato believed that art is an imitation of an imitation. He believed that all things were originally an idea from God. So a pipe is not a pipe. A pipe is an idea made by God. An actual real-life 3D pipe is an imitation of God’s idea of a pipe. So, a painting of a pipe is an imitation of the pipe-maker’s imitation of God’s idea of a pipe. Confused, yet?

Questions to Ask: This says, “This is not a pipe.” What was the artist trying to say? What is more real–a pipe that you could actually smoke, a picture of a pipe, or the word “pipe” written out on a piece of paper?

Aesthetics Lesson Bundle

What is art? Get your students in the mindset to THINK in art class and lead fun art discussions with this lesson bundle!

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Keith Arnatt, Trouser – Word Piece, 1972-89

Keith Arnatt, Trouser - Word Piece, 1972-89
Keith Arnatt, Trouser – Word Piece, 1972-89

Conceptual art from the 1960s and 70s is some of the most intriguing art to me. Artists during this time just did anything and everything to push the boundaries of what is and is not considered art. This piece by Keith Arnatt has a photo of the artist holding a sign saying “I’m a real artist” plus a text quotation from a book that questions how something changes when you add the word “real” in front of it. Read more about the work here.

Questions to Ask: What is your first reaction to this? What message was the artist trying to convey? What is a real artist? What is a not real artist? What makes someone an artist?

Marcel Duchamp, Fountain, 1917

Marcel Duchamp, Fountain, 1917
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain, 1917

Marcel Duchamp took a urinal, placed it on its side, signed a fake artist’s name on it, and put it in an art exhibit. This begs the question, does the artist have to actually make the object in order for it to be art?

Questions to Ask: Is this art? Is this allowed? Is art about the idea or the end result? Would this still be art if it wasn’t in an art exhibit? 

Mark Tansey, The Innocent Eye Test, 1981

Mark Tansey, The Innocent Eye Test, 1981
Mark Tansey, The Innocent Eye Test, 1981

I think this artwork is delightful. I see these scientific men trying to determine the merits of a painting’s “realness” by seeing if it would fool a cow. It’s funny. Here’s a quotation from the artist to help you think about this one even more.

I think of the painted picture as an embodiment of the very problem that we face with the notion “reality.” The problem or question is, which reality? In a painted picture, is it the depicted reality, or the reality of the picture plane, or the multidimensional reality the artist and viewer exist in? That all three are involved points to the fact that pictures are inherently problematic.

— Mark Tansey, quoted in Mark Tansey: Visions and Revisions, by Arthur C. Danto (Source)

Questions to Ask: What is each character thinking, and why are they there? What do they want of the cow? Why is the cow there? What is he going through? What does the artist want from us? What’s with the mop? Why are they wearing glasses? What does this say about art? What does this painting mean?

Learn more about teaching Art and Aesthetics!

This post is small a part of my Art and Aesthetics Lesson Bundle. Get this lesson and more as a member of the Art Class Curator Curated Connections Library.

Get the Full Lesson!

This Lesson is in The Curated Connections Library!

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Thanks for visiting! Which of these do you find the most interesting? What artworks did I miss? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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25 Views of Fathers in Art

The Art Curator for Kids - 25 Views of Fathers in Art History - Happy Father's Day!In honor of Father’s Day coming up, I’ve selected 25 artworks that show fathers in art. Enjoy!

Click on the image to view it larger.

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Dorothea Lange, Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California, Grandfather and grandson of Japanese ancestry, 1942
Dorothea Lange, Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California, Grandfather and grandson of Japanese ancestry, 1942

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Gerard Sekoto,The Proud Father, Manakedi Naky on Bernard Sekoto's Knee, 1947
Gerard Sekoto, The Proud Father, Manakedi Naky on Bernard Sekoto’s Knee, 1947

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Agnes Lawrence Pelton, Awakening (Memory of Father), 1943
Agnes Lawrence Pelton, Awakening (Memory of Father), 1943

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Cbabi Bayoc, 365 Days with Dad, 2012
Cbabi Bayoc, 365 Days with Dad, 2012

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Utagawa Kunisada, Father and Son Members of the Forty Seven Rônin from Chûshingura
Utagawa Kunisada, Father and Son Members of the Forty Seven Rônin from Chûshingura

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Honoré Daumier, The Kiss, c. 1845-48
Honoré Daumier, The Kiss, c. 1845-48

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Arnold Genthe, A Holiday Visit, 1895–1908
Arnold Genthe, A Holiday Visit, 1895–1908

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Lucian Freud, Daughter and Father, 2002
Lucian Freud, Daughter and Father, 2002

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Winslow Homer, Dad's Coming, 1873
Winslow Homer, Dad’s Coming!, 1873

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Edgar Degas, Degas' Father Listening to Lorenzo Pagans, 1869
Edgar Degas, Degas’ Father Listening to Lorenzo Pagans, 1869

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Barthel Bruyn the Elder, Portrait of a Man with Three Sons, 1530
Barthel Bruyn the Elder, Portrait of a Man with Three Sons, 1530

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - New Kingdom, Ancient Egypt, Statue of two men and a boy that served as a domestic icon, ca. 1353–1336 B.C.E.
New Kingdom, Ancient Egypt, Statue of two men and a boy that served as a domestic icon, ca. 1353–1336 B.C.E.

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Henry Mosler, Just Moved, 1870
Henry Mosler, Just Moved, 1870

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam, 1512
Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam, 1512

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Thankful Poor, 1894
Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Thankful Poor, 1894

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Raphael Soyer, The Artist's Parents, 1932
Raphael Soyer, The Artist’s Parents, 1932

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Walker Evans, Floyd and Lucille Burroughs on Porch, Hale County, Alabama, 1936
Walker Evans, Floyd and Lucille Burroughs on Porch, Hale County, Alabama, 1936

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Sherrie Levine, After Walker Evans: 2, 1981
Sherrie Levine, After Walker Evans: 2, 1981

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Domenico Ghirlandaio, Francesco Sassetti (1421–1490) and His Son Teodoro, ca. 1488
Domenico Ghirlandaio, Francesco Sassetti (1421–1490) and His Son Teodoro, ca. 1488

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Eugène Delacroix, The Natchez, 1835
Eugène Delacroix, The Natchez, 1835

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Corneille, Father and Sons, 1951
Corneille, Father and Sons, 1951

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Vincent van Gogh, First Steps, after Millet, 1890
Vincent van Gogh, First Steps, after Millet, 1890

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Rembrandt van Rijn, The Return of the Prodigal Son, c. 1662
Rembrandt van Rijn, The Return of the Prodigal Son, c. 1662

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Miriam Schapiro, Father and Daughter, 1997
Miriam Schapiro, Father and Daughter, 1997

The Art Curator for Kids - Fathers in Art History - Theodor Severin Kittelsen, My Son Tred Always Follow Father's Footsteps, 1894
Theodor Severin Kittelsen, My Son Tred Always Follow Father’s Footsteps, 1894

I came upon some great links while finding art for this post. Check these links out as well for more fathers in art history. Please note, this post includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Which one was your favorite artwork from the list? Let me know in the comments!

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Best Artist Books and Movies for Kids and Adults

Although I don’t think it is necessary to study the lives of individual artist to enjoy and connect with their artwork, hearing stories about artists can make their art come alive in new and exciting ways.

Several months ago, I received a message from a reader. This is what she said.

My number one struggle in teaching art to my kids is making artists come alive. I really want them to grasp art from cave drawings to modern art. To help them understand that there is a person behind each piece that has lived through struggles and joys. I want them to understand that art is an expression of the soul creating it.

~Tee from Wisteria and Worms

I love her statement here, because art is about people and connecting with people. When you are moved by a work of art, you are moved because of the person behind that artwork and what they were thinking and feeling. I believe art becomes more powerful when you recognize that truth.

I will never forget reading The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo. I read it before I studied abroad in Italy in college. After reading that book, I felt like I intimately knew both Michelangelo and where he lived, Florence, Italy. Going to Florence after reading that book was a magical experience for me.

Here are my favorite biographical novels, movies, and children’s books for both kids AND adults!

Please note, this post includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Books about Artists for Kids

The Art Curator for Kids - Children's Books about the Lives of the Artists - Artist Books for Kids

Laurence Anholt’s Books about Artists For Children

This is a great series of books where artists and children meet.

Movies and Books about Artists for Adults

The Art Curator for Kids - Artist Biographies for Adults, Books and Movies - Michelangelo, van Gogh, Vasari, Artemisia Gentileschi, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock

Books about Artists

Other Books about Artists

Tracy Chevalier and Susan Vreeland write good books surrounding artists but the historical accuracy isn’t as good, so I didn’t put them in the above list. I also really want to read The Private Lives of the Impressionists, but since I haven’t read it, I didn’t put in on the list. 🙂

Movies

 

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Kinesthetic Learning in Art: Artworks That Make You Move

The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Learning in Art - Art that Makes you Move

On Monday, I listed 10 kinesthetic art activities to do in front of works of art. Now, here are 12 artworks that can be explored through movement. Show the art to the kids and get them moving with some kinesthetic art appreciation activities!

Don’t stop there; be sure to discuss the artwork with your students as well using these ways to talk about art with kids.

Note: Some of these artworks contain nudity. You can make the decision for your own families/classes whether or not you are comfortable showing it to kids. The great majority of students I’ve taught were able to handle this respectfully. It’s only weird if you make it weird.

The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Titian_Bacchus_and_Ariadne from 1520 until 1523
Titian, Bacchus and Ariadne, 1520-23

Teens of the 90s may recognize this one. “Mmm mmm mmm mmm.”

The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Indian, Shiva as Lord of Dance (Nataraja), ca. 11th century
Indian, Shiva as Lord of Dance (Nataraja), ca. 11th century, Met Museum
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Emil Nolde, Dance Around the Golden Calf, 1910
Emile Nolde, Dance Around the Golden Calf, 1910
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), The Vision of Saint John, ca. 1609–14
El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), The Vision of Saint John, ca. 1609–14
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Auguste Rodin, The Burghers of Calais, 1884-86 by AgnosticPreachersKid
Auguste Rodin, The Burghers of Calais, 1884-86, Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Durga as Slayer of the Buffalo Demon Mahisha (Mahishasura Mardini), 14th-15th century
Nepalese, Durga as Slayer of the Buffalo Demon Mahisha (Mahishasura Mardini), 14th-15th century, Met Museum
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Masaccio, Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, c. 1424-28
Masaccio, Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, c. 1424-28
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Michelangelo, Creation of Adam, Sistene Ceiling
Michelangelo, Creation of Adam, Sistene Ceiling, 1508-12
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Marc Chagall, The Juggler, 1943, Oil on canvas, The Art Institute of Chicago
Marc Chagall, The Juggler, 1943, Oil on canvas, Click to See Larger
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History - kinesthetic learning in art, Laocoön and his sons, also known as the Laocoön Group, Copy after Hellenistic original of c. 200 BCE
Laocoön and his sons, also known as the Laocoön Group, Copy after Hellenistic original of c. 200 BCE
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Pontormo, Deposition from the Cross, 1525-1528
Pontormo, Deposition from the Cross, 1525-1528
The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Art History, kinesthetic learning in art - Jacques-Louis David-The Death of Socrates
Jacques-Louis David, The Death of Socrates, 1787

Which one is your favorite?

Check out part one of this post:

The Art Curator for Kids - Kinesthetic Learning in Art - 10 Fun Kinesthetic Activities to Do with Art - kinesthetic art activities

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A Year of Art Appreciation for Kids: 52 Artworks your Child Should Know

I have compiled for you a massive list of artworks for you to look at with your kids this year. I picked one artwork for each week of the year, and I tried to pick the best of the best. If you haven’t been showing art to your kids, this is a great list to start with! Just sit down and talk about a new artwork each week for a few minutes.

Please note, this post includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Talk about Art with Your Kids

Here are some posts from Art Class Curator for tips at looking at art with your kids.

Art Appreciation for Kids

Instead of dividing by week, I divided by time period. Regrettably, this list does not include non-western art or contemporary art. For more awesome non-western art, check out my Art Around the World series. Each entry below includes a link to find the picture.

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - Ancient to Classical Art

Ancient to Classical Art

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - Medieval to Renaissance Art

Medieval and Renaissance Art



the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - 17th-18th Century Art

17th-18th Century Art

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - 19th Century Art

19th-Century Art

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - Modern Art

Modern and Contemporary Art

the Art Curator for Kids - Art Appreciation for Kids - American

American Art

Whew! This is quite a list. It was hard to choose, and I know I left out some great artworks. Keep reading on Art Class Curator to learn more about teaching art to kids.

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