A Jingo

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool picture today! It's called "A Jingo," and it's by an artist named Théobald Chartran. We don't know exactly when he painted it, but it's from a long, long time ago! nn Does anyone know what a caricature is? It's like a funny drawing of someone, where some parts are made bigger or smaller to make them look silly or interesting. This painting is a caricature of a man. He looks very important, doesn't he? What makes you think he's important? (Pause for children's responses). He's wearing fancy clothes! A top hat and a long coat! nn

Look closely at the man. He's wearing a dark grey coat, light grey pants, and a dark vest. He's holding a cane and a top hat. See how the artist used mostly grey and blue colors? It's kind of like a quiet picture, isn't it? But even though the colors are muted, we can still see all the details of his clothes and his face. What do you think his expression is? Does he look happy, sad, or maybe a little bit grumpy? (Pause for children's responses). nn

The painting's name is "A Jingo." A "jingo" is someone who is very proud of their country and maybe even a little bit too proud! They might think their country is the best country in the world. Do you think this man in the picture is a "jingo"? Why or why not? (Pause for children's responses). Maybe his confident pose and the cane, which is like a symbol of power, tell us something about him. nn

This painting is a clever picture, isn't it? The artist was very good at showing us a lot about this man without using many bright colors or lots of action. It makes us think about what kind of person he was and what he might have believed. It's like a little mystery! What do you think the artist wanted us to think about when we look at this painting? (Pause for children's responses). nn

I hope you enjoyed looking at "A Jingo"! It's a great example of how artists can tell us stories and make us think, even with just a few colors and a clever drawing. Now, let's go see some more amazing art!