Portrait of Professor Heinrich Koppel

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting today! It's called "Portrait of Professor Heinrich Koppel," and it's super old – it was painted in 1925! Can anyone guess how old that is? (Pause for answers). Wow, that's a long time ago! nn This painting is like a window into the past. It shows a man named Professor Koppel. He looks very important, doesn't he? Look at his clothes! He's wearing a fancy suit and a tie. What do you think his job was like? (Pause for answers). He was a professor, a teacher at a university! He looks very serious and thoughtful, doesn't he? What do you think he's thinking about? (Pause for answers). nn

The artist, Nikolai Triik, was really good at painting people. Look closely at the Professor's face. See his beard and his nose? The artist painted all the tiny details! And look at his hands – they're so still and quiet. What do you think he's holding in his hands? (Pause for answers). He's not holding anything, but his hands look very calm and peaceful. nn

The colors in the painting are mostly dark browns and grays, like his suit and the chair he's sitting in. But there are also some lighter colors, like his skin. What do you think the artist used to make the painting? (Pause for answers). He used paint and a brush, just like you might use crayons or markers! The artist used his brush to make different textures, some parts look smooth, and some parts look a little rough. nn

The painting is all about the Professor. He's right in the middle, and everything else is around him. It's like the artist wanted us to look only at him and think about what kind of person he was. What kind of person do you think he was? (Pause for answers). nn

This painting helps us learn about how people lived a long time ago, and how artists painted pictures back then. It's a really special piece of art, and I'm so glad you got to see it with me today! Do you have any questions about the painting? (Pause for questions and answers). Thank you for joining me! I hope you enjoyed learning about this amazing portrait!