Ivan Grohar is renowned as one of the most important Slovenian painters. Together with Rihard Jakopič, Matija Jama and Matej Sternen he formed the great four of Slovenian impressionists who lifted Slovenian art to international level in the beginning of the 20th century. Grohar has painted one of the most important paintings for Slovenian nation. Painting is on display in the National Gallery, in national collection of older art. His Sejalec (1907) was first put on display on the I. Slovenian Art Exhibition in Trieste in the autumn of 1907. The critics soon discovered the masterpiece and an important achievement of Slovenian art. The painting expresses love for the homeland as it depicts typical Slovenian landscape and architecture which can be found in many Grohars works. Because of the painter’s special spatula technique, the paintings facture equates to the motif. The same motif can be seen in multiple Grohars paintings as it was popular among Slovenian and foreign painters. After analysis (formal, iconographical, iconological and contextual) of the painting we focused on the preparation of study material for teachers and mentors. We formed questions and activities for students of three elementary school educational levels, with focus on conversation about the artwork as a key method of learning about art. Approach to questions and activities is interdisciplinary. We dedicated much effort to the question of how to create the best and most interesting didactic material with which we could present the importance of this national symbol to multiple target audiences and to bring school and gallery together in getting to know the painting.
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