Villagers

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting today! It's called Villagers, and it's by an artist named Jacob Maris. He painted it a long, long time ago, in 1872! nn

(Pause for questions and interaction. Encourage children to point out anything they notice about the painting.) nn

Look closely at the painting. See these two girls? They're sitting on a wooden fence. Do you think they are sisters? What makes you think that? They look very peaceful, don't they? nn

(Pause for answers and discussion. Encourage children to describe the girls' clothing and expressions.) nn

The artist used lots of brown, grey, and reddish colors. These are the colors of the earth, like the soil and trees. Can you see them in the background? It's a little blurry, but it looks like there might be a shoreline or maybe even some windmills far away! What do you think is in the background? nn

(Pause for answers and discussion. Encourage children to describe the background and what they imagine it to be.) nn

The girls are doing something quiet. The younger one seems to be knitting or spinning yarn. It's a very simple scene, but it shows us how people lived a long time ago. It's like a little window into the past, isn't it? What do you think the girls are feeling? nn

(Pause for answers and discussion. Encourage children to imagine the girls' feelings and the atmosphere of the scene.) nn

Jacob Maris was really good at showing us the small details. He painted the wood of the fence so you can almost feel its roughness. He painted the girls' clothes so you can almost feel the fabric. That's what makes this painting so special. It's like he's letting us share a quiet moment with these girls. Isn't that amazing? nn

(Pause for questions and final comments. Encourage children to share their overall impressions of the painting.) nn

This painting shows us that even simple things can be beautiful and interesting. Thank you for joining me today! I hope you enjoyed learning about Villagers! Now, let's go see some more amazing art!