START WITH ART: The Fifer

We START WITH ART each morning with our kids (Jenna's kids are 6 and 10, Janet's is 9). This takes us less than five minutes each morning and tends to be re-visited later in the day at the dinner table or during our evening reading sessions. We find this little exercise each morning ignites creativity and sparks critical thinking. 

Here's how to #STARTWITHART:

Step one: Take a look at the artwork below

Step two: Read the questions below the picture of the art to the students/children in your life

Step three: See how starting your day with art can ignite creativity and critical thinking! 

It's that easy! Let's START WITH ART!

Title: The Fifer

Artist: Édouard Manet (it's his birthday!)

Date: 1866

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 160 cm × 97 cm

Start with Art Questions:

• What do you notice in Édouard Manet's painting "The Fifer"? What colors stand out to you? 

• Why do you think Édouard Manet chose to paint a fifer? Do you know what a fife is? If not, any guesses from the clues in the painting? 

• If you were the fifer in the painting, what tune do you think you might be playing, and how would you feel in that moment?

 Add our START WITH ART calendar to yours by clicking here then click "add." Share how you're folding this into your daily routine by tagging us on Instagram @pageofarthistory and/or the tag #startwithart 🖼️