Portrait of Willem Everwijn (1613-1673)

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a super cool painting. It's a portrait, which means it's a picture of a person. This person lived a long, long time ago, in the 1600s! Can anyone guess how long ago that was? (Pause for answers). Yes, it was a very long time ago! nn

This painting is of a man named Willem Everwijn. Look closely at him. He's wearing a very fancy coat, isn't he? It's almost black, but can you see how the light makes it look shiny in some places? What color is his shirt underneath? (Pause for answers). Yes, it's a bright white! See how the artist made the white really stand out against the dark coat? nn

The artist was very clever with light and dark. He used dark colors in the background, so our eyes go straight to Willem. Notice his face. He looks a little serious, doesn't he? What do you think he might be thinking about? (Pause for answers). Maybe he's thinking about his family, or his work, or maybe even what he'll have for dinner! nn

See his hands? They're resting on a hat. The artist painted the fabric of the coat and the hat so realistically! It almost looks like you could touch it, doesn't it? And look up in the corner! Do you see a little picture? That's a coat of arms. It's like a special symbol for his family, showing everyone how important they were. nn

This painting tells us a lot about Willem and the time he lived in. It shows us how people dressed, and maybe even something about their personalities. It's like a window into the past! Isn't it amazing that we can see this painting, and learn about this man, from so many years ago? What do you think is the most interesting thing about this painting? (Pause for answers). I'm so glad you all came to see it with me today!