Christoffer's house in Skagen. Moonlight. Midsummer eve

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a really cool painting. It's called "Christoffer's House in Skagen. Moonlight. Midsummer Eve." It's like a little window into the past, showing us what a summer night looked like a long, long time ago. nn (Pause for questions. Encourage children to point out anything they notice.) nn

This painting is small, but it's very special. See these two houses? They have cute thatched roofs, like straw hats on top! The artist, Peder Severin Krøyer, painted them with lots of little brushstrokes. Can you see them? They look a bit like tiny dots of paint. He used yellow and brown to make the houses look warm and cozy. What colors do you see in the sky? (Pause for answers). Yes, it's mostly blue and gray, like a night sky. And look, there's a big, bright moon! It's like a pearl in the sky. nn

(Pause for questions. Encourage children to describe the feeling the painting gives them.) nn

The moon makes the houses look magical, doesn't it? It's like the moon is shining its light just on these houses. The artist didn't paint any people in the picture. Why do you think he did that? (Pause for answers). Maybe he wanted us to focus on how beautiful the houses and the night are. See how the ground looks? It's flat, like a sandy path. It makes us feel like we could walk right into the painting! nn

(Pause for questions. Encourage children to compare the two houses.) nn

One house is bigger than the other. Can you see the windows and the door on the bigger house? It looks like someone might live there! The smaller house is simpler. It's like a little secret hiding in the moonlight. The whole painting is peaceful and quiet, isn't it? It makes you feel calm and relaxed. nn

(Pause for questions. Encourage children to share their favorite part of the painting.) nn

This painting shows us how amazing the artist was at painting light and shadow. He made a simple scene look really special. It's a little glimpse into a special place in Denmark called Skagen, a long time ago. Isn't it wonderful to see how artists can capture a moment in time like this? Now, who wants to see another amazing painting? nn

(Transition to the next artwork or activity.)