Look! Body Language in Art [Hardcover]

Gillian Wolfe (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Series: Look!

This informative, interactive book introduces children to the practice of observing gestures and poses represented in great works from Van Gogh to Picasso to Pop Art. Gillian Wolfe, who has published several art books for children, invites young viewers to look up, down, outside, inside, close up, and all around 18 different paintings. Questions and activities on each page encourage focused contemplation. For example, "Look Behind" features two paintings, Crespi's The Scullery Maid and Hogarth's The Graham Children. For the former, the book asks, "What do you think will happen next?" and for the latter, "How would their lives have been different?" Works from the Renaissance to the present day are represented, and subjects include trapeze artists, clowns, trains, animals, and children. Biographical information about the artists and where to view the original paintings is included.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–Body language often reveals more about people than what they say or wear. Here, Wolfe looks at 17 famous paintings and asks readers to take notice of facial expressions, postures, hand gestures, etc., and to think about the moods or attitudes that are conveyed. A later section asks viewers to consider the overall message of the paintings, rather than the individual figures. The last section is an illustrated list of the paintings with some information about the artist and the dates and current location of each piece. Wolfe's tone is light and friendly and geared toward a young audience, though some of the vocabulary is challenging. The pages are well designed, with lots of white space and large, full-color reproductions of the artwork discussed. The accompanying activities are simple and require no adult supervision or expensive supplies. This informative book would be particularly useful in helping students understand and appreciate great art.–Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, AL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. Wolfe invites readers to examine works of art and interpret the body language of the figures they see. Each double-page spread features a painting or print beautifully reproduced in color on fine, glossy paper, accompanied by remarks on the picture, suggestions for activities, and leading questions for readers to ponder. Most of the 17 artists represented are European, though several Americans and one Japanese artist are included. All are men. Although Wolfe's comments will lead children to explore the paintings and come to a fuller understanding, some readers may disagree with her opinions and wonder about her conclusions; e.g., her interpretation of John Steuart Curry's John Brown ignores the painting's historical context and implies that the central figure is simply a Kansas settler "ready to cope with the worst that nature can bring." Small reproductions of each picture, along with a little more information about the artist and his work, are appended. First published in Great Britain, the book offers a fresh approach for discussing art with children. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books (October 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845070348
• ISBN-13: 978-1845070342
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,782,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.