Valley of the Seine

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting today! It's called "Valley of the Seine," and it's like a tiny window into a beautiful place. Does anyone know what a valley is? It's like a low area between hills, sometimes with a river running through it. This painting is super small, only this big (gesture to indicate a small size), but it shows a whole big valley! nn --- nn This painting was made a long, long time ago, between 1831 and 1832, by a French artist named Théodore Rousseau. He used oil paints on a canvas, just like some of you might use paint on paper! He was really good at painting nature, and this painting shows how much he loved the outdoors. Can anyone guess what kind of colors he might have used to paint a valley? nn --- nn Look closely! See all the greens and blues? Those are the colors of trees and the sky. The path is a sandy color, like the beach! There's a little bit of a forest, and even a tiny house way off in the distance. But mostly, it's all about nature. What do you think the artist wanted us to feel when we look at this painting? Peaceful? Calm? Happy? nn --- nn Théodore Rousseau was really clever with his paints. He didn't use harsh lines; he made everything soft and blurry, just like a real valley would look from far away. He used light and dark colors to make the painting look three-dimensional, like it has depth. Can you see how the trees in the background look smaller than the ones closer to us? nn --- nn This painting is part of a special style called Romanticism. Romantic artists loved to paint nature and show how beautiful and powerful it is. They wanted people to feel the emotions that nature inspires. So, when you look at this painting, what feelings do you get? Do you feel like you could go for a walk in this valley? nn --- nn So, "Valley of the Seine" isn't just a picture; it's a feeling! It's a way to experience the peace and quiet of nature, even if we can't actually be there. Isn't that amazing? Now, let's move on to see some more wonderful art! Do you have any questions about this painting before we go?