An Introduction to Pictorial Space
This lesson plan provides an introduction to the paintings in the National Gallery of Canada’s collection of European art by means of a study of pictorial space. The works chosen from the collection illustrate a significant strand in the evolution of art over the second millennium, the illusionist sense of perspective, as well as other related aspects of creating a pictorial space.
Title:
An Introduction to Pictorial Space
Theme:
Introduction to perspective and composition in European art.
Summary:
This lesson plan takes us into the world of perspective by way of the first six works and demonstrates the processes of creating a pictorial space; the subsequent “deconstruction” of perspective is then seen in four representative twentieth-century works. The
purpose of this lesson is to capture the interest of students with specific illustrations of this fascinating topic.
