Montagne Sainte-Victoire, from near Gardanne

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting! It's called "Montagne Sainte-Victoire, from near Gardanne," and it was painted a long, long time ago, in 1887, by an artist named Paul Cézanne. He was super famous, and this painting is like a superstar in our museum! nn

(Pause for questions and interaction) nn

This painting is a landscape, which means it shows a view of nature. See this big mountain? That's the Montagne Sainte-Victoire! It's a really impressive mountain, isn't it? The painting is quite big too, almost as tall as you are! Can anyone guess how the artist made the mountain look so real? He didn't just draw smooth lines; he used lots and lots of little brushstrokes, like tiny dabs of paint. It's like he built the mountain with paint! nn

(Pause for questions and interaction. Encourage children to look closely at the brushstrokes.) nn

Look at the colors! There are lots of browns, beiges, and ochres at the bottom. These are earthy colors, like the ground and the plants. But then, as you look up towards the mountain, the colors change to blues and grays. It makes the mountain look far away, doesn't it? And see that little yellow building? It's like a tiny house, showing us that people lived near this amazing mountain. nn

(Pause for questions and interaction. Point out the different colors and the small building.) nn

Cézanne didn't try to make everything look exactly like a photograph. He simplified things, making the shapes of the mountain, the road, and the bushes very clear. He was more interested in showing the basic shapes and how they fit together. It's like a puzzle made of shapes and colors! What shapes do you see in the painting? nn

(Pause for questions and interaction. Encourage children to identify shapes like triangles, squares, and circles.) nn

This painting isn't just pretty to look at. It's important because Cézanne painted in a new way. He helped change how artists painted, and his work inspired many artists who came after him. He loved painting this mountain, and it shows how amazing and powerful nature can be. So, take a moment to look closely and see all the wonderful things Cézanne did with his paint! nn

(Pause for questions and interaction. Allow time for quiet observation.) nn Isn't it amazing? I hope you enjoyed learning about this painting! Do you have any more questions? Remember, art is all about looking closely and letting your imagination run wild!