Rocky courtyard with pine growing in the middle

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting today! It's called "Rocky Courtyard with a Pine Tree in the Middle," and it's super old – it was painted way back in 1859! Can anyone guess how old that is? (Pause for answers). Wow, that's a long time ago! nn

This painting is small, like a postcard, but it shows us a big story. It's a picture of a courtyard, like a little garden, with rocks and a big, strong pine tree. See how green the tree is? What do you think the tree makes you feel? (Pause for answers). It's so different from the brown rocks and houses, isn't it? nn

Look closely at the houses. They're made of wood, and they look a little old and worn. Can you see how the artist painted them? They're kind of dark brown and gray. What do you think that tells us about the houses? (Pause for answers). Maybe they've been there for a long, long time! And there are no people in the picture. What do you think that makes you feel? (Pause for answers). nn

The artist, Werner Holmberg, was really good at painting with watercolors. Watercolors are paints that use water, and he made the colors look so soft and pretty. He even made the rocks look bumpy and the tree look fluffy! Can you see how he did that? (Pause for answers). He was very careful and paid attention to every little detail. nn

This painting shows us a little bit of Finland a long, long time ago. It shows us how beautiful and peaceful nature can be. It's a reminder that even simple things, like a courtyard with a tree, can be really special. What's your favorite part of this painting? (Pause for answers). I'm so glad you all came to see it with me today! nn

Now, let's go look at some other amazing paintings! Do you have any questions about this one before we go?