Ode to Autumn

As the leaves turn golden and the air grows crisp, Autumn's magic is impossible to ignore. This season has long been a muse for artists, from the masters of Amsterdam's Golden Age to contemporary art. Our recent projects took inspiration from autumn's palette and the fascinating histories that intersect with the season, from 16th-century Holland to the wizarding world of Harry Potter and the vibrant cultures of Africa.

Our journey began in 1500s Amsterdam, a city flourishing with trade and creativity. This was the era of Jan Roos, a still-life artist known for his exquisite depictions of Autumn's bounty. Roos' paintings, filled with gourds, grapes, and gleaming silver, capture the season's abundance and the fleeting nature of beauty. Studying Roos' work, we marveled at his use of light and shadow, and his ability to imbue ordinary objects with a sense of wonder. In the same spirit, we had a still-life tableau with flowers, fruit, and objects set up for the students to sketch from and use in their paintings.

The class set out to create their own autumn-infused art inspired by Jan Roos and the mysterious, mystical world of Dark Academia. This aesthetic, popularized by the Harry Potter films, combines the musty, vintage atmosphere of ancient libraries with the thrill of hidden knowledge and magical discovery. To top it off we threw in masks to the mix. Masks play a significant role in this world, from the ghostly visages of Hogwarts' portraits to the disguises worn by students as they navigate the shadows. We delved into the fascinating history of masks, from the ceremonial pieces of Africa to our recent lesson on the art of the Haida, to the elaborate creations of Venice's Carnival. We discovered how African masks, with their bold patterns and expressive forms, influenced artists like Picasso, inspiring a new era of modern art. These masks were more than mere objects – they were tools for transformation, for stepping into new identities and perspectives.