Messenger

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a super cool painting called The Messenger. It's from a long, long time ago – the 1600s! Can anyone guess what year that was? (Pause for answers). That's right, it was painted in 1675! It's a little painting, not as big as a door, but it tells a big story. nn

Now, look closely at the painting. See this woman? She's wearing a beautiful, flowing dress. It's almost white, right? What do you think it's made of? (Pause for answers). The artist, Gerard ter Borch, was amazing at painting clothes! He made the dress look so soft and shiny. Do you see how the light makes it look different in places? nn

And who's this next to her? (Point to the man). It's a man! He's looking at the woman very carefully. What do you think he's thinking? What do you think is happening? (Pause for answers and encourage discussion). Maybe he's waiting for her to finish reading her letter. Maybe he's worried about what it says! nn

See the little table? It has a red carpet on it. It's got pretty flowers on it, doesn't it? The artist didn't use lots of bright colors. Most of the painting is dark browns and whites. Why do you think he did that? (Pause for answers). It makes the woman and her dress stand out even more! nn

This painting is all about a secret moment. It's like we're peeking into someone's private life. It's a little bit mysterious, isn't it? The artist wanted us to think about what's happening and what the people are feeling. That's what makes it so special. nn

This painting is from a time called the Dutch Golden Age. Artists then loved to paint everyday life, like people in their homes. This painting is a really good example of that. It's like a little window into the past, showing us how people lived and what was important to them. Isn't that amazing? Now, let's move on to see some more wonderful art!