Landscape with cart on a dyke

My name is Isabella, and I will be your guide today through one of our most impressive paintings! Look at this beautiful picture! It's called "Landscape with a Cart on a Dyke." It was painted a long, long time ago, in 1646, by an artist named Jan van Goyen. He was from the Netherlands, a country famous for its beautiful landscapes. This painting is like a tiny window into his world. nn (Pause for children to look at the painting) nn What do you see in the picture? Yes, I see a river! And a little house! What else? That's right, a cart pulled by a horse! It looks like it's going for a ride, doesn't it? And look at the sky – it's a bit cloudy, isn't it? Do you think it's a sunny day or a cloudy day in the painting? nn (Pause for children to respond) nn The artist used lots of browns, grays, and greens. These are called earth tones, because they're the colors we see in the earth and plants. They make the painting feel calm and peaceful, don't they? It's not bright and flashy, but it's very pretty in a quiet way. See how the colors are soft and gentle? nn (Pause for children to observe the colors) nn Look at the little house on the hill. It's a simple house, but it looks important, doesn't it? Maybe it's a tollbooth, where people paid to cross the river. And see all the tiny people? They're doing their everyday things, just like we do! Some are in boats, some are walking along the riverbank. It makes the painting feel real and alive, doesn't it? nn (Pause for children to identify the figures) nn Jan van Goyen was really good at painting the way light and shadow make things look. He didn't paint everything with lots of detail, but he showed us how the light makes the scene feel peaceful and calm. He wanted to show you the feeling of the place, more than just exactly what everything looked like. It's like a story told with colors and shapes! nn (Pause for children to consider the artist's technique) nn So, what did you think of this painting? Did you like the colors? The story it tells? Remember, art is all about sharing feelings and ideas. This painting shows us a peaceful moment in time, a long time ago. It's a little piece of history, and we get to see it today! Isn't that amazing? nn