Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: Third Term
Week: 4
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Visual Art
Curriculum Theme: Art History and Appreciation
Previous Lesson: African Art History: Ancient Egyptian Painting and Hieroglyphics.
Topic: IMPACT OF AFRICAN ART ON WESTERN ART
Subject Matter: Meaning of cultural impact in art (how art styles influence each other across cultures), impact of African art on European art, impact of European art on African art

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define cultural impact in art.
Explain the impact of African art on European art.
Explain the impact of European art on African art.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the interconnectedness of global art forms.

Psychomotor Domain:

Identify specific artworks or styles that show cross-cultural influence.

Discuss examples of cross-cultural influence in art.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Cultural and Creative Arts for Senior Secondary Schools, Book 2

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Art history images
Comparative artwork photos
Slides illustrating African and European art

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how artistic styles and ideas are shared and evolve across different cultures. It enables pupils to appreciate the diverse influences that shape art globally, fostering a broader perspective on art history.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of different African and European art forms and historical periods.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

IMPACT OF AFRICAN ART ON WESTERN ART

Meaning of Cultural Impact in Art

Cultural impact in art refers to how artistic styles, forms, techniques, and philosophies from one culture influence and are adopted by artists in another culture. This exchange can lead to new movements and expressions.

Impact of African Art on European Art

African art had a profound influence on European art, particularly in the early 20th century. European artists, seeking new ways to express themselves beyond traditional realism, found inspiration in the abstract and stylized forms of African sculpture and masks.

Key influences include:

Abstraction: African art’s emphasis on simplified forms and geometric shapes inspired artists to move away from naturalistic representation.
Cubism: Pablo Picasso, a pioneer of Cubism, was significantly influenced by African masks and sculpture, which he saw as powerful and expressive. His work, such as “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” shows clear stylistic borrowings.
Fauvism: Artists like Henri Matisse were drawn to the vibrant colors and bold lines found in some African textiles and masks, leading to the development of Fauvism’s expressive use of color.
Expressionism: German Expressionists were inspired by the raw emotional power and spiritual symbolism in African art.
Masks and figures: The distinct facial features, exaggerated proportions, and symbolic meanings of African masks and figures were incorporated into European portraiture and sculpture (e.g., Amedeo Modigliani).

Impact of European Art on African Art

European art also influenced African art, particularly during the colonial period and through increased global interaction. This influence often led to the adoption of new materials, techniques, and themes.

Key influences include:

Introduction of new materials: European contact introduced new art materials such as oil paints, canvas, and various drawing tools, which African artists began to use.
Realism and Naturalism: European academic art, with its emphasis on realism and naturalistic representation, influenced some African artists to create more lifelike portraits and figures.
Colonial themes: Art created during the colonial era sometimes depicted colonial administrators, events, or adopted European symbols and styles.
Academic training: The establishment of art schools and academies based on European models led to formal training in Western art techniques and theories for African artists.
Christian art: The spread of Christianity brought European religious iconography and artistic styles into African art, particularly in church art and illustrations.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and briefly reviews the previous lesson. The teacher then introduces the topic by asking pupils if they think art from different cultures can influence each other.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greeting and the question, sharing their initial thoughts.
Learning Point: Pupils connect the new lesson to prior knowledge and understand the lesson’s focus.

Step 2: Meaning of Cultural Impact in Art

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of cultural impact in art, emphasizing how art styles, forms, and philosophies travel across cultures and influence new artistic expressions. The teacher provides simple examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, ask clarifying questions, and take notes on the definition.
Learning Point: Pupils understand what cultural impact in art means.

Step 3: Impact of African Art on European Art – Forms and Abstraction

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Visual Demonstration/Lecture
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher uses slides and images to explain how African art’s abstract forms, stylized figures, and geometric patterns influenced early 20th-century European art movements like Cubism and Fauvism. The teacher highlights specific examples and artists.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the images, listen to the explanations, and take notes on the key influences and examples.
Learning Point: Pupils identify how African abstraction and forms influenced European modernism.

Step 4: Impact of African Art on European Art – Mask Influence

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Illustration/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher specifically discusses the influence of African masks on European artists, showing how masks inspired works by artists like Pablo Picasso and Amedeo Modigliani. The teacher points out features borrowed.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils examine the comparative artworks, discuss the similarities, and note down the specific mask influences.
Learning Point: Pupils recognize the direct impact of African masks on specific European artworks and artists.

Step 5: Impact of European Art on African Art

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Lecture/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how European art influenced African art, covering aspects such as the introduction of new materials, the emphasis on realism, colonial themes, and the establishment of academic art training. The teacher provides examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, contribute ideas, and take notes on the ways European art impacted African art.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the reciprocal influence and specific ways European art affected African art.

Step 6: Discussion and Examples

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Question and Answer
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher facilitates a general discussion, asking pupils to identify and explain additional examples of cross-cultural influence they observed or learned.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss examples, identify features borrowed across traditions, and share their understanding.
Learning Point: Pupils articulate their understanding through active discussion and example identification.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is meant by cultural impact in art?
Mention two ways African art influenced European art.
Name one European artist who was influenced by African art.
How did European art influence African art?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key learning points about the reciprocal impact of African and European art. The teacher assigns homework, asking pupils to research another example of cross-cultural influence in art.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding and are encouraged to explore further.

Lesson Keywords

Cultural Impact – The influence of one culture’s art on another.
Abstraction – Art that does not attempt to represent external reality but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.
Modernism – A philosophical movement that, along with cultural trends and changes, arose from wide-scale and far-reaching transformations in Western society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Cubism – An early 20th-century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture.
Fauvism – A style of painting with vivid expressionistic and nonnaturalistic use of color that flourished in France from 1905.
Masks – Objects worn over or in front of the face, often used in rituals or performances, which greatly influenced European artists.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp the concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research specific artworks or artists in more detail. For pupils who need more support, the teacher will provide simplified explanations and focus on identifying key visual examples.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

It is important to use a variety of visual aids, including images of both African and European artworks, to effectively demonstrate the points of influence. Encourage active discussion and critical thinking about how art travels across cultures.