Portrait of Professor Amund Helland

My name is Isabella, and I'll be your guide today! We're going to look at a really cool painting. It's called "Portrait of Professor Amund Helland," and it's from a long, long time ago – the 1800s! nn (Pause for questions) nn This painting is like a snapshot of a man from the past. See this man? He's Professor Helland. He looks very serious, doesn't he? He's wearing a fancy coat and hat. What do you think his job was like? What kind of things do you think he studied? nn (Pause for answers and discussion) nn Look closely at his face. Do you see the little shadows and light? The artist, Erik Werenskiold, was super good at painting faces! He made the professor look very real, like he could talk to us any minute. He even painted his beard so it looks fuzzy! And see his pipe? Maybe he liked to think quietly while smoking it. nn (Pause for questions and observations) nn The colors in the painting are mostly dark browns, blacks, and grays. Why do you think the artist chose these colors? Do they make the painting feel happy or serious? nn (Pause for answers and discussion) nn This painting isn't just a picture of a man; it's a story! It tells us about how people dressed and what they looked like a long, long time ago. It's like a time machine! It shows us what life was like for a professor in the 1800s. Isn't that amazing? nn (Pause for questions and reflection) nn So, next time you see a portrait, remember Professor Helland. Remember how artists can capture a person's personality and the time they lived in, just with paint and a canvas. What do you think makes a good portrait? nn (Pause for answers and discussion) nn Now, let's go look at some other amazing paintings! nn