Sunrise in the Crimea

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a beautiful painting today! It's called "Sunrise in the Crimea," and it's like a window into a faraway place a long, long time ago. nn

Does anyone know what a sunrise is? (Pause for answers) Yes, it's when the sun comes up in the morning! This painting shows a sunrise in a place called Crimea. It's a beautiful land with hills and mountains. Imagine waking up and seeing this amazing view! nn

This painting is quite small, only about as tall as a grown-up's arm and a little wider. But even though it's small, it shows us so much! Look at the colors. What colors do you see? (Pause for answers) Yes, there are soft yellows and oranges where the sun is coming up. And there are soft blues and grays in the sky. The artist used these calm colors to make the painting feel peaceful and quiet. nn

Can you see the sun itself? (Pause for answers) No, it's hidden behind the clouds, but we can feel its warmth and light spreading out. The artist painted with big, loose brushstrokes. It's like he was painting quickly, trying to catch the sunrise before it changed! He probably painted it outside, just like we might paint pictures in the park! nn

Look at the bottom of the painting. Do you see the little hill? (Pause for answers) And what looks like old, broken buildings? It's a bit mysterious, isn't it? It makes us wonder what happened there. And then there's a green line of plants, and far away, hazy mountains. It makes the painting feel deep and wide, like we can almost walk right into it! nn

This painting was made a long, long time ago, in 1876! The artist, Johann Köler, wanted to show us how beautiful and peaceful nature can be. He wanted to share this beautiful sunrise with everyone. Isn't that wonderful? What do you think about this painting? What is your favorite part? (Pause for answers and engage with children's responses). I hope you enjoyed seeing this beautiful sunrise! Let's go look at some more amazing art!