From canvas to classroom: Exploring modern art movements through creative expression in early childhood education

This paper focuses on the study and educational application of three significant artistic movements – Impressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism with an emphasis on how they can be creatively integrated into the preschool curriculum. Through theoretical analysis and a comparative presentation of the characteristics, techniques, and major representatives of each movement, their artistic and pedagogical value is highlighted. The central part of the paper presents an innovative teaching plan inspired by the work of Salvador Dalí, which utilizes experiential and interdisciplinary methods to introduce young children to surrealist art. The activities promote imagination, aesthetic development, critical thinking, and children’s creative expression, connecting art with language, nature, technology and the natural sciences. The study documents the importance of contemporary art in early childhood education and demonstrates that even the most abstract art movements can be understood and accessible to young children when presented in a pedagogically appropriate way.