The Fountains of Silence: A Novel

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“The Fountains of Silence Gallery”

In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of characterization and theme in Fountains of Silence by creating a gallery of Estampa Popular art “curated” by four of the novel’s main characters.

In Fountains of Silence, Daniel’s photography is one means of resistance against Franco’s oppression, and Ana finds a kind of emotional and spiritual relief in the paintings of Joaquín Sorollo. Historically, art has had an important role in fighting oppression—and this was also true in Spain during Franco’s regime. In this activity, you will learn about the artists of the Estampa Popular movement and create a collection of their work that reflects the personalities and beliefs of four characters from Fountains of Silence.

Choose the Art

• Do some online research into the artistic movement called Estampa Popular.
• Choose four of the following characters:

o Daniel

o Ana

o Rafa

o Julia

o Puri

o Fuga

o Ben

o Lorenza

• From the Estampa Popular works you have researched, choose one piece of art for each of these four characters, as if these characters are curating their own gallery show of Estampa Popular artists.