Montessori students study art for France trip

In preparation for our cultural trip to France, the art studio has been abuzz with conversations about the evolution of European art towards French Impressionism. We will be visiting The Louvre, the Musee D'Orsay, and possibly the Pompidou Centre. We have discussed in depth, the Mona Lisa, and Leonardo Da Vinci, the story of The Raft of the Medusa, Liberty Leading the People, Vermeer's the LaceMaker, and the transitional painter Eduard Manet and his 'shocking' Luncheon on the Grass. The students are very ready to visit Giverny, the home and studio of Claude Monet during the last 40 years of his life.

We have seen how the march forward in painting was bumpy and difficult in mid-century Paris. The Impressionists changed the way artists worked (outdoors en plein air, looking at the ordinary life of people and scenes in nature, exploring light and color, optical mixing using separated brushstrokes, and more). The excitement of the stories and art of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne, Morisot, Cassatt, and others has been very satisfying!

We are also prepared to see the wildly unusual paintings of Arcimboldi, the enormous canvas of Napoleon's coronation by David, and so much more.

Before we leave for France, students will see a presentation about the life and work of Vincent Van Gogh and his relationship to Paul Gauguin. A special exhibit of Van Gogh's paintings, drawings and letters will be on display at the D'Orsay while we are visiting!

Learn more about our Montessori art program.

The Renaissance International School is a Montessori school in Oakland's Dimond district. Students from Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Moraga and other east bay cities and towns attend the school. We have a strong music, fine arts and French and Spanish language immersion program.