The Cartographer Professor Josef Jüttner and His Wife

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting today! It's called The Cartographer Professor Josef Jüttner and His Wife. It's a little bit like a snapshot of someone's life a long, long time ago. nn Does anyone know what a cartographer is? (Pause for answers). That's right! A cartographer makes maps! This painting shows a professor who made maps, and his wife. The painting is small, only a little bigger than a big book! But it tells us a lot about their lives. nn

Look closely at the professor. See his desk? It's covered in books and papers! He's got a quill and an inkwell – that's what people used to write with before pens! He looks very serious, doesn't he? Like he's thinking hard about his maps. What do you think he's thinking about? (Pause for answers) nn

Now look at his wife. She's standing behind him, and she's wearing a beautiful white dress and a blue scarf. She's holding a basket of fruit – yummy grapes, peaches, and figs! It looks like she's bringing him a little snack. What do you think she's feeling? (Pause for answers) Maybe she's proud of her husband, or maybe she just wants him to take a break from his work! nn

The artist, whose name was Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, was really good at painting light and shadow. See how the light makes the professor and his wife look so real? And see the colors? They're not bright and flashy, but they're very pretty and peaceful. What are your favorite colors in the painting? (Pause for answers) nn

This painting shows us a little bit about how people lived a long time ago. It shows us that even though the professor was busy with his work, he had a loving wife who cared for him. It's a sweet picture, isn't it? It reminds us that even people who work hard still have time for family and love. nn

So, what did you think of The Cartographer Professor Josef Jüttner and His Wife? What was your favorite part? (Pause for answers) I hope you enjoyed learning about this painting today! Remember, art can tell us stories about people from the past, and it can help us understand how people lived and felt. Now let's go see some more amazing art!