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Viktor Lowenfeld

Austrian Viktor Lowenfeld (1903–1960) was an Austrian-born professor of art education at the Hampton Institute and the Pennsylvania State University. His ideas influenced many art educators in the post-World War II United States. In particular, he emphasized "ways in which children at different stages of artistic development should be stimulated by appropriate media and themes, and ... the curriculum ... guided mainly by developmental considerations."[1]

Biography edit

Born in Linz, Austria, in 1903, Viktor Lowenfeld had always been drawn to the arts. Through his personal narration, Lowenfeld mentioned that he was pulling toward music at an early age – probably four or five. He started to play violin at the age of nine or ten. And because he used to play by ear, rather than reading notes, he was often called a “Gypsy.” That same year Lowenfeld started painting. This early exposure to the visual and performing arts led him to a career devoted to the practice of educating himself and the public in art.

Dr. Lowenfeld graduated from the College of Applied Arts in Vienna, as well as the Academy of Fine Arts in the same city. He later received his doctorate in Education from the University of Vienna, and during this time served as an elementary and secondary school teacher. While in Vienna, he also served as the director of art in the Blind Institute. In 1938 Lowenfeld fled to England before arriving in the United States. He became a citizen in 1946 after serving in the Navy as a wartime visual aids consultant.

Lowenfeld joined the Hampton Institute in Virginia in 1939 as assistant professor of Industrial Arts, studio art teacher, and later Chairman of the Art Department. In 1945 he was named curator of the distinguished collection of Black African Art at the Hampton Institute. Lowenfeld came to The Pennsylvania State University as professor of Art Education in 1946. Ten years later he became head of the newly founded Department of Art Education. He stayed in this position until his death in 1960. Dr. Lowenfeld is well known for his Visual-Haptic theory in Art Education which was assimilated from Viennese sources. He always regarded good teaching as a dialogue, therefore his motivation and evaluations had a strong Expressionist bias. His psychological training enabled him to gain a therapeutic position in his early months in America, labeling him a “Viennese Psychologist” in Time. He was an active leader in the National Art Education Association and The National Committee on Art Education.

According to Peter Smith, “Lowenfeld is still a name of power in American art education. Although his own death, and the deaths and retirements of his disciples, have lessened Lowenfeldian political in academia (and therefore in teacher education), his concepts go marching on.”[2] Lowenfeld’s philosophy reached a large audience through the theories documented in his books: Genesis of Sculpturing, 1932; Sculptures by the Blind, 1934; The Nature of Creativity, 1938; Creative and Mental Growth, 1947; and Your Child and his Art. He also published numerous articles on art education aesthetics, art for the handicapped, black art, and testing. He published more than one hundred articles.

Among his students was the American muralist John T. Biggers.

Creative and Mental Growth edit

Lowenfeld's 1947 Creative and Mental Growth was published and became the single most influential textbook in art education. Many elementary school teacher preparation programs used this book since it described characteristics of child art. Lowenfeld believed evidence of aesthetic, social, physical, intellectual, and emotional growth is reflected in the art of children.

He further developed a theory of stages in artistic development. The stages consisted of

  1. scribble;
  2. preschematic;
  3. schematic;
  4. Dawning Realism;
  5. Pseudorealism; and
  6. Period of decision/crisis.

Lowenfeld's ideas of art as a catalyst of creativity have prompted many research dissertations in the field of art education.

The Lowenfeld Memorial Collection edit

Viktor Lowenfeld left behind an association of friends and followers including Edward L. Mattil who helped establish the Viktor Lowenfeld Memorial Fund. Dr. Mattil, at the time of Dr. Lowenfeld’s death, was also asked to serve as head of the Department of Art Education. The Memorial Fund was administered by a local committee composed of Elizabeth Yeager, Yar Chomicky, George Pappas, Walter C. Reid, and George S. Zoretich; and by the National Committee which included Kenneth R. Beittel, Mayo Brice, F. Louis Hoover, Edward L. Mattil, Charles M. Robertson and D. Kenneth Winebrenner. The national memorial provided moneys for research papers by eminent scholars every second year at the NAEA convention. About five such papers have been delivered. The money of the local committee was spent to purchase sculpture, trees, and plaques for a memorial garden area at Penn State College of Education. During this drive, graduated students contributed paintings, sculptures, and drawings to the Lowenfeld Memorial Collection.

The contributions are still welcomed today. The collection which amounts to more than seventy works is located within the Arts Cottage, the Chambers Building, the Cedar Building, and the Rackley Building at the University Park Campus.

References edit

  1. ^ Douglas C. Allen. "United States of America: Art Education". Grove Art Online.
  2. ^ Lowenfeld in a Viennese Perspective: Formative Influences for the American Art Educator, Journal of Studies in Art Education

Bibliography edit

  • "Lowenfeld Speaks of His Life." A lecture given at The Pennsylvania State University, Part A and B.
  • Smith, P. "The Hampton Year: Lowenfeld's Forgotten Legacy," Journal of Art Education, vol. 41, no. 6, 1988, 38–42.
  • Smith, P. "Lowenfeld in a Viennese Perspective: Formative Influences for the American Art Educator," Journal of Studies in Art Education, vol. 30, no. 2, 1989, 104–114.

External links edit

  • Answers.com
  • Stages of Child Art

viktor, lowenfeld, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Viktor Lowenfeld news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Austrian Viktor Lowenfeld 1903 1960 was an Austrian born professor of art education at the Hampton Institute and the Pennsylvania State University His ideas influenced many art educators in the post World War II United States In particular he emphasized ways in which children at different stages of artistic development should be stimulated by appropriate media and themes and the curriculum guided mainly by developmental considerations 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Creative and Mental Growth 3 The Lowenfeld Memorial Collection 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksBiography editBorn in Linz Austria in 1903 Viktor Lowenfeld had always been drawn to the arts Through his personal narration Lowenfeld mentioned that he was pulling toward music at an early age probably four or five He started to play violin at the age of nine or ten And because he used to play by ear rather than reading notes he was often called a Gypsy That same year Lowenfeld started painting This early exposure to the visual and performing arts led him to a career devoted to the practice of educating himself and the public in art Dr Lowenfeld graduated from the College of Applied Arts in Vienna as well as the Academy of Fine Arts in the same city He later received his doctorate in Education from the University of Vienna and during this time served as an elementary and secondary school teacher While in Vienna he also served as the director of art in the Blind Institute In 1938 Lowenfeld fled to England before arriving in the United States He became a citizen in 1946 after serving in the Navy as a wartime visual aids consultant Lowenfeld joined the Hampton Institute in Virginia in 1939 as assistant professor of Industrial Arts studio art teacher and later Chairman of the Art Department In 1945 he was named curator of the distinguished collection of Black African Art at the Hampton Institute Lowenfeld came to The Pennsylvania State University as professor of Art Education in 1946 Ten years later he became head of the newly founded Department of Art Education He stayed in this position until his death in 1960 Dr Lowenfeld is well known for his Visual Haptic theory in Art Education which was assimilated from Viennese sources He always regarded good teaching as a dialogue therefore his motivation and evaluations had a strong Expressionist bias His psychological training enabled him to gain a therapeutic position in his early months in America labeling him a Viennese Psychologist in Time He was an active leader in the National Art Education Association and The National Committee on Art Education According to Peter Smith Lowenfeld is still a name of power in American art education Although his own death and the deaths and retirements of his disciples have lessened Lowenfeldian political in academia and therefore in teacher education his concepts go marching on 2 Lowenfeld s philosophy reached a large audience through the theories documented in his books Genesis of Sculpturing 1932 Sculptures by the Blind 1934 The Nature of Creativity 1938 Creative and Mental Growth 1947 and Your Child and his Art He also published numerous articles on art education aesthetics art for the handicapped black art and testing He published more than one hundred articles Among his students was the American muralist John T Biggers Creative and Mental Growth editLowenfeld s 1947 Creative and Mental Growth was published and became the single most influential textbook in art education Many elementary school teacher preparation programs used this book since it described characteristics of child art Lowenfeld believed evidence of aesthetic social physical intellectual and emotional growth is reflected in the art of children He further developed a theory of stages in artistic development The stages consisted of scribble preschematic schematic Dawning Realism Pseudorealism and Period of decision crisis Lowenfeld s ideas of art as a catalyst of creativity have prompted many research dissertations in the field of art education The Lowenfeld Memorial Collection editViktor Lowenfeld left behind an association of friends and followers including Edward L Mattil who helped establish the Viktor Lowenfeld Memorial Fund Dr Mattil at the time of Dr Lowenfeld s death was also asked to serve as head of the Department of Art Education The Memorial Fund was administered by a local committee composed of Elizabeth Yeager Yar Chomicky George Pappas Walter C Reid and George S Zoretich and by the National Committee which included Kenneth R Beittel Mayo Brice F Louis Hoover Edward L Mattil Charles M Robertson and D Kenneth Winebrenner The national memorial provided moneys for research papers by eminent scholars every second year at the NAEA convention About five such papers have been delivered The money of the local committee was spent to purchase sculpture trees and plaques for a memorial garden area at Penn State College of Education During this drive graduated students contributed paintings sculptures and drawings to the Lowenfeld Memorial Collection The contributions are still welcomed today The collection which amounts to more than seventy works is located within the Arts Cottage the Chambers Building the Cedar Building and the Rackley Building at the University Park Campus References edit Douglas C Allen United States of America Art Education Grove Art Online Lowenfeld in a Viennese Perspective Formative Influences for the American Art Educator Journal of Studies in Art EducationBibliography edit Lowenfeld Speaks of His Life A lecture given at The Pennsylvania State University Part A and B Smith P The Hampton Year Lowenfeld s Forgotten Legacy Journal of Art Education vol 41 no 6 1988 38 42 Smith P Lowenfeld in a Viennese Perspective Formative Influences for the American Art Educator Journal of Studies in Art Education vol 30 no 2 1989 104 114 External links editAnswers com Stages of Child Art Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Viktor Lowenfeld amp oldid 1136851988, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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