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Wolf Kahn Landscapes

Realism and color field meet in the works of Wolf Kahn. Students will learn about his art and create a colorful landscape in his style.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Wolf Kahn (1927-2020) is an artist known for landscape painting. He worked in both realism and color field painting. Realism is a style that represents a subject truthfully, while color field painting is an abstract style characterized by large fields of color. It has been said that he combined "pictorial landscapes and painterly abstraction." He worked primarily in oil and pastels. He is an American artist who donated works to FAPE (Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies). FAPE is dedicated to providing permanent works of American art for U.S. embassies worldwide and to promoting cultural diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding.

  • Step 2

    Have students view some of Kahn's landscapes, such as "Gray Cloud Magenta Water" (1991), "Evening Distance" (2006), "Stately and Bright" (2008), "Yellowstone Silhouette" (2008), or any others. Have them note the use of color and the elements of abstraction.

  • Step 3

    Ask students to create a landscape drawing using oil pastels. Encourage them to use abstract elements and broad areas of color, as Kahn did.

  • Step 4

    Display the art on a bulletin board or in hallways. Have a discussion about how art can be a positive force in promoting cultural awareness.

Standards

ARTS: Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.

ARTS: Analyze how art exhibited in schools, museums, galleries, virtual spaces, and other places contributes to communities. 

SS: Individual Development and Identity: Explore, identify and analyze how individuals and groups are alike and how they are unique and how they relate to each other in supportive and collaborative ways.

Adaptations

Ask students to imagine they are artists and they have been asked to contribute a work to be displayed in a US Embassy or consulate. What country would they like their work to be in? Why? What would they create?