Great Modern Artists
Part One
Their Stories and Their Art
Contents
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Norman Rockwell
Andy Worhol
Jackson Pollock
Edvard Munch
Norman Rockwell
Norman Rockwell’s Art
• Norman Rockwell was very prolific, and
produced over 4,000 original works, most of
which have been either destroyed by fire or
are in permanent collections.
• Rockwell is most famous for the cover
illustrations of everyday life scenarios he
created for The Saturday Evening Post
magazine over more than four decades.
• The 1994 film Forrest Gump includes a shot in a
school that re-creates Rockwell's Girl with Black
Eye with young Forrest in place of the girl. Much
of the film drew heavy visual inspiration from
Rockwell's art.
• In the film Lilo & Stitch , the end credits include a
parody of Rockwell's Thanksgiving . The
participants in the dinner include three aliens, a
native Hawaiian woman and child, and an
African-American man.
Based upon this selection, you can infer
that Norman Rockwell
1. created paintings
about everyday life
that are still very
influential.
2. never became
famous.
3. had money problems
his whole life because
his paintings were
stolen.
33%
33%
33%
created pa...
never beca...
had money ...
Sunset
Famous “Rockwells” The Shiner
Freedom From Want
Famous “Rockwells”
Rockwell’s painting entitled Cubs sold at
auction for $662,500
Cubs
Which Rockwell do you like best?
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Freedom From Want
Cubs
The Shiner
Sunset
Norman Rockwell
1897-1978
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol’s Art
• It was during the 1960s that Warhol began
painting pop art of American products such
as Campbell's Soup Cans and CocaCola bottles, as well as paintings of celebrities
such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley
Muhammad Ali and Elizabeth Taylor.
• He once said "I've got to do something that
will have a lot of impact that will be
completely different from other artists.”
Short Bio of Warhol
In third grade, Warhol had a disease of the
nervous system that caused involuntary movements
of his legs and hands. He became a hypochondriac
and developed a fear of hospitals and doctors.
Often bed-ridden as a child, he became an
outcast among his school-mates and bonded strongly
with his mother. At times when he was confined to
bed, he drew, listened to the radio and collected
pictures of movie stars around his bed. Warhol later
described this period as very important in the
development of his personality. When Warhol was
13, his father died in an accident.
… and his most
Famous piece …
Campbell’s
Soup Can
In 2008, Eight Elvises
sold for $100 million
dollars.
Famous “Warhols”
Muhammad Ali
Marilyn
Which of Warhol’s paintings sold for
$100 million?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Marilyn
Eight Elvises
Muhammad Ali
Campbell’s Soup Can
Marilyn
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25%
Eight Elvi...
Muhammad Ali
Campbell’s...
If you HAD to, for which Warhol would
you pay $100 million?
25%
25%
25%
25%
1.
2.
3.
4.
Marilyn
Eight Elvises
Muhammad Ali
Campbell’s Soup Can
Andy Warhol
1928-1987
Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock’s Art
• “My painting does not come from the easel. I prefer
to tack the unstretched canvas to the hard wall or
the floor. I need the resistance of a hard surface. On
the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more part
of the painting, since this way I can walk around it,
work from the four sides and literally be in the
painting. When I am in my painting, I'm not aware of
what I'm doing.”
• A young photographer went to Pollock’s studio
to photograph him painting. Here is his
account of what he saw:
“A dripping wet canvas covered the entire
floor. . . There was complete silence. . . Pollock
looked at the painting. Then, unexpectedly, he
picked up can and paint brush and started to
move around the canvas. His movements, slow
at first, gradually became faster and more dance
like as he flung black, white, and rust colored
paint onto the canvas. He completely forgot that
I was there; he did not seem to hear the click of
the camera shutter.
My photography session lasted as long as he
kept painting, perhaps half an hour. In all that
time, Pollock did not stop. How could one keep
up this level of activity? Finally, he said 'This is
it.’”
What can you infer, based upon the passage?
1. Pollock gave the
photographer art
lessons.
2. Pollock was just
learning to paint.
3. Pollock’s painting
style looked almost
like a dance.
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Pollock ga...
Pollock wa...
Pollock’s ...
Short Bio of Jackson Pollock
After struggling with alcoholism for the
whole of his adult life, Pollock's career was
cut short on August 11, 1956 at 10:15
p.m.when he died in a single-car crash in
his convertible while driving under the
influence of alcohol. One of the passengers
was also killed in the accident, which
occurred less than a mile from Pollock's
home. Another passenger, Pollock's
girlfriend survived.
After Pollock's death at the age of 44, his
widow, Lee Krasner, managed his estate and
ensured that Pollock's reputation remained
strong despite changing art-world trends. A
large boulder marks his grave and a smaller
one marks hers. Pollock was 44 when he died.
Based upon the reading selection, one
can infer which of the following:
1. Pollock had an easy,
uneventful life.
2. Pollock’s life was
ruined by his
alcoholism.
3. Pollock never knew
his children.
33%
33%
33%
Pollock ha...
Pollock’s ...
Pollock ne...
Pollock at Work
Galaxy
The Flame
Mural
One of the most expensive paintings in
history:
Number 5 by
Jackson
Pollock sold at
auction for
$140 million.
Number 5
Jackson Pollock
1912-1956
Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch’s Art
• Munch's figures appear to play roles on a
theatre stage (Death in the Sick-Room), whose
fixed postures signify various emotions. Since
each character embodies a single
psychological emotion, as in The Scream,
Munch's men and women now appear more
symbolic than realistic. Death in the SickRoom depicts the death of his sister Sophie.
The characters in Munch’s paintings:
1. look like characters in
a play and represent
different emotions.
2. were actually stage
actors from local
theatre.
3. were nudes.
33%
33%
33%
look like ...
were actua...
were nudes.
Short Bio of Edvard Munch
Edvard’s mother died of tuberculosis in 1868,
as did Munch's favorite sister Johanne Sophie in
1877. After their mother's death, the Munch
siblings were raised by their father and aunt
Karen.
Often ill for much of the winters and kept out
of school, Edvard would draw to keep himself
occupied. Christian Munch instructed his son in
history and literature, and entertained the
children with vivid ghost stories and tales
of Edgar Allan Poe.
In 1908, Munch's anxiety, compounded by
excessive drinking, led to mental instability.
“My condition was verging on madness—it
was touch and go.” Subject to hallucinations
and feelings of persecution, he entered a clinic
where he received “electro-shock therapy.”
This stay in the hospital stabilized his mental
problems and after he became a worldcelebrated artist.
What can you infer about Munch
as a child?
1. He was a normal kid.
2. He had lots of friends
and was popular with
girls.
3. He was from a rich
family and he was very
active in school sports.
4. He spent much of his
time at home with few,
if any, friends.
He was a n...
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He had lot...
He was fro...
He spent m...
Based on this information, what can you infer
about the treatment that Munch received
during his hospitalization?
1. It helped him to
recover.
2. It was not helpful.
3. He opened a
hospital of his own
after.
33%
33%
33%
It helped ...
It was not...
He opened ...
Famous Art
of Munch
The Scream
Vampire
… and, of course, the masterpiece …
Death in a Sick-Room
Separation
Edvard Munch
1863-1944
Self Portrait
Pick Your Favorite
• Of the four artists highlighted in this piece,
choose your favorite based on the background
information as well as the art itself.
• Ask yourself: “About whom would I like to
learn more?”
Which Artist is Your Favorite?
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Andy Warhol
Edvard Munch
Norman Rockwell
Jackson Pollock
And One Final Question
• How well do you know Ms. Jordan’s tastes?
Though she enjoys the art of all four of these
artists, one, and only one, of them is on her
Top-5-favorite-artists-of-all-time list.
• Get that clicker ready!
Which artist is on Ms. J’s Top 5?
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Andy Warhol
Edvard Munch
Norman Rockwell
Jackson Pollock
The End
• Hope you enjoyed getting to know more
about modern art and artists.