Still Life with Pumpkin

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting! It's called "Still Life with Pumpkin," and it's like a little window into someone's world a long, long time ago. nn (Pause for children to look at the painting.) nn Does anyone know what a still life is? It's a painting of things that don't move, like fruit, vegetables, or maybe even some pretty dishes. This painting is all about a pumpkin! See this big, round pumpkin? It's been cut in half, and we can see all the seeds inside. What color is the pumpkin? And what do you think the seeds look like? nn (Pause for children to answer and discuss.) nn The artist, whose name was Félix Ziem, was really good at showing how things feel. Look at the pumpkin's skin. Some parts are a bright orange, and some parts are a little darker, almost brown. Do you think that means the pumpkin is perfectly fresh, or maybe it's been sitting around for a little while? nn (Pause for children to answer and discuss.) nn See how the artist painted the background? It's dark brown, almost black. It makes the pumpkin really stand out, doesn't it? It's like the pumpkin is shining a light! What do you think the background might be made of? Maybe wood, or a table cloth? nn (Pause for children to answer and discuss.) nn This painting isn't super detailed, like a photograph. The artist used quick brushstrokes, which makes it look a little bit fuzzy. But that's okay! It still shows us how beautiful a simple pumpkin can be. It makes us think about nature and how things change over time. Even when a pumpkin starts to get a little old, it can still be pretty, right? nn (Pause for children to answer and discuss.) nn So, next time you see a pumpkin, maybe you'll think about this painting. It shows us that even everyday things can be beautiful and interesting if we take the time to look closely. Wasn't that fun? Do you have any questions about the painting? nn