Study for the fresco Ilmarinen ploughing the Viper-field

My name is Isabella, and I will be your guide today through one of our most impressive paintings! It's called "Study for the fresco Ilmarinen ploughing the Viper-field." It's a really cool picture painted by a Finnish artist named Akseli Gallen-Kallela, a long, long time ago, between 1900 and 1910. nn

Does anyone know what a fresco is? It's like a really big painting done on a wall! This painting is a "study," which means it's like a practice piece for a much bigger fresco. So, this is a sneak peek of what the big painting looked like! nn

This painting tells a story from a really old Finnish book called the Kalevala. It's like Finland's very own fairy tale book! The story is about a strong man named Ilmarinen. Can you see him in the painting? He's the one in the white clothes. He's plowing a field, which means he's getting the land ready to plant things. What do you think he's planting? nn

Look closely! See the big horse pulling the plow? It looks like it's working really hard! And down in the corner, do you see those squiggly lines? Those are supposed to be vipers, which are like snakes! That's why it's called the "Viper-field." It sounds a bit scary, doesn't it? nn

The artist used lots of brown and earthy colors, right? But look at the bright white of Ilmarinen's clothes! It makes him stand out, doesn't it? The painting isn't perfectly balanced; it's a little bit lopsided. Why do you think the artist did that? What feeling does it give you? nn

This painting isn't just pretty to look at. It tells us about Finnish stories and how important they are to the Finnish people. It also shows us how artists can use colors and shapes to tell a story. What do you think the artist wanted us to feel when we look at this painting? nn

So, next time you see a painting, remember to look closely at the colors, the shapes, and even the empty spaces. They all tell a part of the story! What's your favorite part of this painting? What questions do you have about it?