The Smoker

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting today! It's called The Smoker, and it's super old – it was painted a long, long time ago! Does anyone know how old you think it might be? (Pause for answers). Well, it's from around 1615 to 1625! That's hundreds of years ago! nn


nn Look closely at the painting. See this man? He's quite old, isn't he? His face has lots of wrinkles. What do you think makes his face look like that? (Pause for answers). Yes, he's lived a long life! He's sitting at a table, and he's smoking something. See the smoke coming out of his mouth? It looks like a little cloud, doesn't it? What do you think he's smoking? (Pause for answers). Maybe it's a pipe, and maybe he's smoking tobacco. nn


nn The artist was really clever with the colors. See how some parts are really dark, and some parts are really light? This is called chiaroscuro – it's a fancy word for using light and dark to make the painting look three-dimensional, like it pops out! It makes the man look really real, doesn't it? What do you think the artist wanted us to feel when we look at this painting? (Pause for answers). Maybe it makes you feel thoughtful, or maybe a little bit sad. nn


nn This painting isn't just about a man smoking. It's about thinking about life. It makes us think about how we grow old, and how life changes. It's a bit like a story, isn't it? What do you think the story of this painting is? (Pause for answers). It's a story about time passing, and about the things we think about as we get older. Isn't that amazing that a painting can tell a story? nn


nn So, next time you see a painting, remember to look really closely. Look at the colors, the shapes, and think about what the artist might be trying to tell you. Art is like a secret code, and we can all learn to understand it! Thank you for joining me today! Do you have any questions about The Smoker?