Introduction
This paper discusses ideas about children and child art in the 1940s. Art has been an important part of early childhood programs since the 19th century. However, beliefs about children and art have changed as theories of childhood have changed. In this paper we explore the work of an artist/teacher in Australia in the 1940s, Marianne Seemann. Marianne had formal art training and had worked with Franz Cizek, a pioneer of Child Art, before coming to Australia in 1938. Influenced by the secessionists, Freudian psychology and her own training she had progressive educational ideas and in Australia taught child art classes, lectured at the Sydney Nursery School Training College (NSTC) was a volunteer art teacher with the Children's Art and Craft Movement and organised children's art exhibitions.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine some of the history of an important element of early childhood educational practice. Historical research provides an opportunity to better understand and interpret the present. Exploring the ideas and practices of Marianne Mendl-Seemann and explaining her impact on those she taught will help to explain some of the contradictory attitudes, debates and practices that surround the question of children and art in early childhood services today.
Method
The chosen research approach is historical. The 1940s was an interesting time for ideas in early childhood and many influences, including Dewey, Erikson and Gesell were prominent. Theories about children and art and the role of self-expression abounded. An historical view makes it possible to look at ideas within a context and suggest reasons why some ideas and practices are more enduring than others. Data has been collected through a review of the scholarly literature, archival searches which include original teaching notes and observations plus film records, artefacts like paintings, drawings and paint pot collections and extensive interviews with people who had art lessons with Marianne.
Results
The picture emerging from this research is of a woman ahead of her time, well trained, opinionated and progressive in the principles she adhered to in her work. Her influence on those she taught is still noticeable. Revisiting her ideas on the role of the artist/teacher is providing insights into concepts like intervention, modelling, teaching, skill development, creative self-expression and the value of art for the child.