Page 17 Reread the page that begins, “In 1949, at the age of sixty-one …” What inspired Josef Albers to begin his exploration? Why did he use a square shape?
SPOTLIGHT ON LANGUAGE Point out to campers the ways that the author uses figurative language to describe colors. On page 23, the text states, “I can make the dullest gray dance by setting it against black.” This is an example of personification–using a person, animal, or object to represent something. In this example, the color gray “dances” the way a person would. Describing it this way illustrates that the colors are lively and interesting.
Possible response: Josef Albers was inspired by his discovery that colors seemed to look different in different combinations. He wanted to use a simple shape so he could focus on the effects of the colors. Page 18 Reread the page that begins, “Colors came to life …” What does the author mean when she says, “Colors came to life like actors on a stage”? Possible response: She means that the colors seemed to step forward or back like actors on a stage, depending on what colors they were paired with. Page 20 Reread the page that begins, “Colors became softer and louder.” How do the illustrations help you understand what the author is describing? Possible response: The illustrations help to show the different effects created by the color combinations that the text describes. Page 24 Reread the page that begins, “Josef put his findings into a book …” Why do you think Josef Albers was given a show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Possible response: His book and his art changed the way people thought about color and changed the way people taught art. Page 27 Reread the page that begins, “I’m not paying homage to a square …” How did Josef Albers describe his use of the square in his paintings? Possible response: The square was the shape he used to explore his ideas about color. He said that the square was the dish that he used to serve his ideas about color. Page 28 Reread the page that begins, “When I was a young girl living in Orange …” Why do you think the author included an Author’s Note? What information does it give the reader? Possible response: The author probably included the Author’s Note because it helps tell why she wanted to write the book, and that she had a personal connection to Albers. It provides more details about his life and work. Explore More
If time allows, continue the discussion with these additional prompts. Why do you think Josef Albers is a good subject for a biography? How did Josef Albers’s curiosity inspire his art?
Leader’s Guide • Lesson 12 | 99
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