La Traversée (The Passage)

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool picture! It's called La Traversée, which means "The Crossing" in French. It's by an artist named Félix Buhot, and he made it a long, long time ago – in 1879! nn (Pause for questions and allow children to respond.) nn

This picture is a print, which means it's like a copy made from a special plate. It's not very big, but it tells a big story! Look closely – can you see all the people? What do you think is happening? Are they on a boat? A train? nn (Pause for questions and discussion. Encourage children to describe what they see.) nn

It looks like they're on a boat, maybe a ferry, crossing the water. See how some people are huddled under umbrellas? It looks like it's a bit rainy and windy! Buhot used lots of dark browns and blacks, so it feels a little bit mysterious, doesn't it? He's really good at showing how light and shadow make things look interesting. nn (Pause for questions and discussion. Point out the use of dark colors and shadows.) nn

Look over here! See these people going up and down the stairs? Buhot doesn't show them perfectly, but we can still see them moving. And what's that near the stairs? It looks like a harp! That's a bit surprising, isn't it? It makes the picture feel a little bit fancy. nn (Pause for questions and discussion. Point out the implied movement and the harp.) nn

There are lots of little things happening in this picture. See that little dog walking with its person? And those people sitting and waiting? And look – way off in the distance, there are other boats on the sea! It's like Buhot is showing us lots of different parts of the journey all at once. nn (Pause for questions and discussion. Point out the smaller details and their contribution to the story.) nn

Buhot used a special way of making this print, called etching. You can almost see the lines he made! It makes the picture feel very alive and exciting. It's not just a picture of a boat; it's a story about all the people on the boat, their journey, and their feelings. It's like a little movie, frozen in time! nn (Pause for questions and discussion. Explain the etching technique simply.) nn

So, what do you think about La Traversée? What's your favorite part? What story does it tell you? Remember, looking at art is all about seeing what you see and thinking about what it makes you feel. nn (Allow ample time for children to share their thoughts and feelings about the artwork.) nn Thank you for joining me today! I hope you enjoyed learning about Félix Buhot and his amazing print! Remember to keep looking at art and letting it tell you its stories. Now, let's go see what other amazing artworks we can discover!