Wild Duck Shooting

My name is Isabella, and I will be your guide today through one of our most impressive paintings: Wild Duck Shooting! It was painted a long, long time ago, in 1655, by a very talented artist named Jacob van Ruisdael. He was from a country called the Netherlands, and this painting shows us what nature looked like there many years ago. nn

(Pause for questions. Encourage children to point out things they see in the painting.) nn

Look at the picture! What colors do you see the most? Yes, lots of browns and greens! It's mostly brown and green because it shows a swampy area, like a big, muddy puddle with lots of plants. See those ducks? They're hiding in the plants, aren't they? They're brown and green too, so they blend in really well! Can you spot them all? nn

(Pause for questions and interaction. Encourage children to count the ducks.) nn

See that broken tree trunk? It's lying on the ground. It looks a little sad, doesn't it? But it also makes the picture interesting. And look up at the sky! It's not bright blue, is it? It's a bit cloudy and gray. This makes the whole painting feel a little bit quiet and peaceful, don't you think? nn

(Pause for questions. Ask children how the sky makes them feel.) nn

There are also some tiny people in the painting! Can you see them? They're very small, near the water. They're hunters, trying to catch the ducks. But they're so small compared to the big landscape, it shows how big and powerful nature is. It's like nature is the main character in this story, and the hunters are just a small part of it. nn

(Pause for questions. Ask children what they think the hunters are feeling.) nn

This painting is a really good example of how artists painted nature a long time ago. They loved showing how beautiful and peaceful nature can be. It's a beautiful picture, isn't it? It makes us think about nature and how amazing it is. What do you think about this painting? nn

(Open the floor for discussion and questions. Encourage children to share their thoughts and feelings about the artwork.)