WINTER LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS IN 16th-17th CENTURY EUROPE AND THE LITTLE ICE AGE

 Shared by Sonia Rodríguez:

For the task 4 I have chosen a cross-curricular project that involves Art History, Geography,  Science and Plastic and Visual Education.

It is aimed at students of 2nd year of ESO, for the subject of Geography and History.

It consists in the analysis of 16th and 17th century winter landscapes and the research about their relationship to the Little Ice Age in Europe.

When studying  Renaissance art, we see the first depictions of  landscapes, that will become very popular during  the baroque period.  A specific type of landscape is the winter landscape, especially popular in Dutch and Flemish paintings.

First, we analyse the painting of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “Hunters in the Snow” (1565).  Then we see other paintings depicting this topic , which was a common one during this period. 

After that, they must find out what the weather is like in those places today, and the reason for the Little Ice Age.

 

Finally, they are asked to design their own 17th century style winter landscape drawing with a short explanatory text. The drawings will be displayed in the classrooom.

 

ACTIVITIES

û  Find out what  London Frost Fairs were, and during what period they were held.

û  Does the Thames river freeze nowadays? Find out what the weather  is like currently in London, and if those fairs would be possible. What happened in that time, then?

û  Explain what was the Little Ice Age, and its causes.

û  Would you like to experience that type of winter? Why?

û  Now, MAKE YOUR OWN DRAWING DEPICTING A 17th CENTURY WINTER LANDSCAPE WITH A SHORT TEXT explaining the image and summarising the causes of that kind of weather in Europe.