Three Men on a Rock

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool picture today! It's called "Three Men on a Rock," and it's super old – from way back in 1645! Can anyone guess how old that is? (Pause for answers). Wow, that's a long, long time ago! nn

This picture is a print, which means it's like a copy made from a special plate. The artist, Allaert van Everdingen, only used brown ink, but look how many different shades of brown he made! It's like magic, isn't it? See how some parts are dark and shadowy, and others are lighter? That makes the rocks look really bumpy and three-dimensional, like they're sticking out of the picture! What do you think the artist did to make the rocks look so real? (Pause for answers) nn

Now, look closely! Do you see the tiny people? There are three men standing on a big rock, and there are three more down below. They're so small compared to the huge rocks! It makes the rocks seem even bigger and more powerful, doesn't it? What do you think the men are doing? Are they exploring? Are they just looking at the view? (Pause for answers) nn

See all the plants and trees? The artist used lots of little lines to make them look bushy and full. It's a really interesting contrast between the smooth rocks and the leafy plants. What do you think the artist wanted us to notice about the difference between the rocks and the plants? (Pause for answers) nn

This picture shows us how amazing nature can be. The artist wanted to show us how powerful and beautiful the natural world is. It's a reminder that nature is much bigger and stronger than us! What's your favorite part of nature? (Pause for answers) nn

This is a really special picture, and it shows us how artists from long ago were able to capture the beauty of the world around them. I hope you enjoyed looking at it as much as I enjoyed showing it to you! Now, let's go see some more amazing art!