rue de Rouen in Paris

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a really cool painting. It's called "Rue de Rouen in Paris," and it shows a street in Paris a long, long time ago – in 1889! That's almost 140 years ago! Can you imagine what Paris was like then? nn (Pause for children's responses) nn This painting is small, only about as wide as a big book and a little taller. But even though it's small, it shows us so much! The artist, Santiago Rusiñol, painted a narrow street. See those tall buildings? They look old and maybe a little bit mysterious, don't they? nn (Pause for children's responses) nn Look at the colors. They're not bright and shiny. They're mostly grey, brown, and a little bit of green. It makes the street feel quiet and peaceful, doesn't it? Can you imagine walking down this street? What sounds do you think you would hear? nn (Pause for children's responses) nn Look closely! Can you see tiny people walking in the street? They're almost hidden in the shadows. And see that line hanging between the buildings? That's laundry! People hung their clothes outside to dry back then, just like sometimes we do today. It shows us that even though the street looks quiet, people lived and worked there. nn (Pause for children's responses) nn The whole painting feels a little bit sad, or maybe thoughtful. That's because the artist wanted to show us how the street felt, not just what it looked like. He wanted us to imagine being there and feeling the quiet of the street. It's like stepping back in time! nn (Pause for children's responses) nn So, "Rue de Rouen in Paris" is more than just a picture of a street. It's a story about a place, a time, and the feelings of the artist. It shows us how art can make us feel things and imagine things, even if it's a picture of a quiet street in Paris from a long time ago. Isn't that amazing? nn (Pause for children's responses) nn Now, who wants to tell me their favorite part of the painting? What did you like the most? nn