Martin van den Bogaert

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to explore this amazing painting with you all today! nn Look at how big it is! It's even taller than me! This painting is called "Martin van den Bogaert," and it was painted a long, long time ago, way back in 1692. That's even before your grandparents were born! nn Can you imagine someone painting this huge picture so long ago? The artist who painted this was also named Martin van den Bogaert. That's like if one of you grew up to paint a picture of yourselves! nn --- nn Now, let's take a closer look! What do you see in the painting? nn That's right! It's a man! He's dressed in fancy clothes, isn't he? He looks very important. He's wearing a velvet jacket, just like a king! And look at that big, white collar around his neck! Do you think he gets food on it when he eats? nn The man in the painting is actually the artist who painted it! He painted a picture of himself! That's called a self-portrait. It's like taking a selfie, but with paint and a brush! nn --- nn See how the light shines on his face? It makes him look very serious and thoughtful, doesn't it? And look at his hand! What do you think he's holding? nn It's a bust, which is like a statue of a head and shoulders. Why do you think he would include that in his painting? nn That's right! He wants us to know that he's a sculptor too! He's very talented. nn --- nn Now, let's look at the colors in the painting. Do you see how most of the colors are dark, like brown and black? But then, look at the red curtain in the background! It's so bright! Why do you think the artist chose to make the curtain red? nn You're right! The red curtain makes the man stand out even more. It's like he wants us to pay attention to him, and not get distracted by anything else. nn --- nn This painting is like a window into the past. It shows us what life was like for an artist a long time ago. It also reminds us that art can last for hundreds of years! Maybe one day, someone will be looking at a painting made by one of you! nn Now, who wants to be an artist when they grow up?