Gardener Standing by a Haystack, Overcast Sky, Éragny

My name is Isabella, and today, we're going to be art detectives! We're going to explore a painting called Gardener Standing by a Haystack, Overcast Sky, Éragny. It was painted by a really famous artist named Camille Pissarro. He loved to paint pictures of the countryside! nn Can you guess what we might see in a painting with that title? That's right, a gardener and a haystack! nn nn Look closely at the painting. What do you see? nn The painting shows us a field. It looks like it might be a cloudy day, doesn't it? The artist used lots of blues and greys to make the sky look overcast. nn Can you find the gardener? What is he wearing? nn The gardener is wearing a big straw hat and a dark apron. He's standing next to a big haystack. Do you think his job is easy or hard? nn nn Now, let's look at how the artist painted this picture. nn Do you see how the artist used short, choppy brushstrokes? It almost looks like he made little dots all over the canvas! This technique is part of a style called "Impressionism." nn What do you think the artist wanted us to feel when we look at this painting? nn nn Even though the sky is cloudy, the painting still feels peaceful, doesn't it? nn The artist wanted to show us the beauty of simple things, like a gardener working in a field. He wanted us to appreciate the hard work that people do every day. nn nn This painting is part of a very special collection here at the Portland Museum of Art. That means it will stay here for many years to come, so people can always visit it and enjoy its beauty. nn I hope you enjoyed being art detectives with me today! What was your favorite part of the painting?