Since 1880 children have been using in primary and secondary schools a geometric method based on academic art. Considered to be too strict and limiting the child’s freedom in expressing his feelings and imagination in 1909, a reform in the education of art is put in to place (Pernoud, 2003). Gaston Quénioux, professor at the national school of decorative arts, is the main instigator. He decides to focus on “free drawing”. He says that this “free drawing” must contribute to the development of the child.
From 1872 to 1911, teaching drawing becomes an obligation in the education of the child (Renevey Fry, 2008). In the previous decades, art was only present in some schools and reserved for the higher society. The methods implemented in infant
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In primary schools, curriculums favour a more intuitive approach based on everyday observations. But the academic/geometric study continues to dominate. It’s the new movement and interest in childish drawings to psychologist in 1920 (Rouma, Luquet) that will change the vision of children’s art. The evolution towards a pedagogy leaving more room for personal expression: children start to illustrate their lessons, do free drawing and so on. (Renevey Fry, 2008).
Chapter 3: Art in 1940
Introduction of the area
In 1940, England and France are at war with Germany. It is the beginning of the Second World War. Families are divided again from their loved ones. At the end of the war, countries are left in poverty and destroyed. Everything needs to be rebuilt. These years are called the Years of reconstruction. Schools are rebuilt and have to respect certain rules to get back to normal (Education Act, 1944).
During the war, Art had strict rules, in countries occupied by the Germans “All artists had to join the state, controlled union of soviet artists and produce work in the accepted mode”. It’s only after the war that new movements appeared to free peoples mind from the horrors of war. For example, Abstract expressionism with the painter Jackson Pollock, (1946-56) became very popular.
The story of a child in