Instructions
Read through each section and complete the activities. The theme for today's worksheet is the "Blue Period" of the famous artist, Pablo Picasso. This was a time when he almost exclusively used shades of blue and blue-green in his paintings, often showing subjects of poverty and sadness.
Art: Expressing Emotion with Color
Picasso used the color blue to show feelings of sadness and despair after the death of a close friend. This is called using a monochromatic color scheme, which means using only one color, but in different shades (lights and darks).
- Think of a strong emotion you have felt recently (like happiness, anger, or excitement). What single color would you choose to represent that feeling? Why?
- In the space below, or on a separate piece of paper, draw a simple scene or object (like your room, a pet, or a piece of fruit). Instead of its real colors, color your drawing using only different shades of the color you chose in question 1. Try to make the drawing express that emotion.
English: Blue Period Vocabulary
The words used to describe Picasso's Blue Period are often as sad as the paintings themselves. Match the vocabulary word on the left with its correct definition on the right by writing the correct letter in the blank.
- 1. _____ Melancholy
- 2. _____ Somber
- 3. _____ Poverty
- 4. _____ Monochromatic
- 5. _____ Outcast
A. Dark and gloomy; serious and sad in spirit.
B. A person who has been rejected by their society or a social group.
C. A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
D. Consisting of only one color (or shades of one color).
E. The state of being extremely poor.
Creative Writing: One of Picasso's most famous Blue Period paintings is "The Old Guitarist." It shows an elderly, frail man hunched over his guitar, playing on the street. Imagine you can hear the music he is playing. Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) describing the song. What does it sound like? How does it make you feel?
History: The World from 1901-1904
Picasso's Blue Period lasted from 1901 to 1904. It was triggered by the tragic death of his close friend, Carlos Casagemas. During this time, Picasso was living in Paris, France, and Barcelona, Spain. The turn of the 20th century was a time of great change. Cities were growing rapidly, and while there was new wealth and exciting inventions like the first airplane flight (1903), there was also widespread poverty. Many people struggled to find work and food, living in difficult conditions. Picasso saw this hardship around him every day, and it deeply influenced the subjects he chose to paint.
- What personal event is said to have started Picasso's Blue Period?
- In which two European cities did Picasso live during this time?
- Besides his personal sadness, what was happening in the cities around him that influenced his paintings?
Social Studies: Art and Society
During his Blue Period, Picasso painted people who were often ignored by the rest of society: beggars, prisoners, the blind, and the very poor. He didn't paint kings, queens, or rich merchants. He focused his art on those who were struggling.
- Why do you think an artist would choose to paint people who are sad or poor instead of powerful and happy people? What kind of message might they be trying to send to the world?
- How can art like Picasso's Blue Period paintings help us understand the lives of people from different time periods or social classes?
Answer Key
Art: Expressing Emotion with Color
- Answers will vary. Example: "I would choose yellow for happiness because it feels bright, warm, and energetic like the sun."
- This is a creative activity. The goal is to see the student use different shades of a single color to express a specific emotion.
English: Blue Period Vocabulary
Matching:
- C - Melancholy
- A - Somber
- E - Poverty
- D - Monochromatic
- B - Outcast
Creative Writing: Answers will vary. A good answer will use descriptive words related to sound and feeling. Example: "The old guitarist's song is probably slow and quiet. The notes sound lonely, like a single raindrop falling. It makes me feel a little sad for him, but also peaceful, as if he is telling his life's story with the strings."
History: The World from 1901-1904
- The death of his close friend, Carlos Casagemas.
- Paris and Barcelona.
- There was widespread poverty and hardship in the cities, which he saw every day.
Social Studies: Art and Society
- Answers will vary. A good answer might mention things like: to show the truth of life for everyone, not just the rich; to make people feel empathy or sympathy; to bring attention to social problems like poverty; to express their own feelings of sadness.
- Answers will vary. A good answer might include: Art can act like a historical document, showing us what people wore, what their lives were like, and what society valued. It can help us feel what it might have been like to live in that time by showing us the emotions and struggles of the people.