Oceanus

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool picture! It's called Oceanus, and it's super old – from way back in 1588! Can anyone guess how old that is? (Pause for answers). Wow, that's a long, long time ago! nn

This picture shows a super strong man named Oceanus. He's like the king of the ocean! See how big and strong he looks? He's riding a giant sea monster! What do you think the sea monster looks like? (Pause for answers). It's kind of scary, isn't it? But Oceanus is in control. He's holding the reins, just like you might hold the reins on a horse. nn

The artist, Hendrik Goltzius, was amazing! He only used brown ink, different shades of brown, to make this picture. But look how many different browns there are! It's like magic, right? Can you see the light and dark browns? How do they make the picture look three-dimensional? (Pause for answers). That's because the artist was really, really good at showing light and shadow! nn

This picture isn't just pretty; it tells us a story. It shows how people a long time ago thought about the ocean. It was powerful and sometimes scary, but humans tried to control it. What do you think it means to control the ocean? (Pause for answers). It's a big idea, isn't it? nn

So, next time you see the ocean, remember this picture. Remember Oceanus, the strong man, and the amazing way the artist used just brown ink to make such a powerful picture! What's your favorite part of the picture? (Pause for answers). I'm so glad you came to see it with me today!