START WITH ART: Maple Trees at Mama, Tekona Shrine and Linked Bridge, No. 94 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

We START WITH ART each morning with our kids (Jenna's kids are 7 and 10, Janet's is also 10). This takes us less than five minutes each morning and tends to be re-visited later in the day at the dinner table or during our evening reading sessions. We find this little exercise each morning ignites creativity and sparks critical thinking. 

Here's how to #STARTWITHART:

Step one: Take a look at the artwork below

Step two: Read the questions below the picture of the art to the students/children in your life

Step three: See how starting your day with art can ignite creativity and critical thinking! 

It's that easy! Let's START WITH ART!

Title: Maple Trees at Mama, Tekona Shrine and Linked Bridge, No. 94 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige

Date: 1857

Medium: Woodblock print

Dimensions: 36 x 23.5 cm

Start with Art Questions: 

• How do you think the leaves in the center of the artwork make the scene feel special?

• What do you notice about the way Hiroshige used the large tree trunk to frame the scene? How does this help guide your eyes to the shrine and bridge in the distance? 

• If you could visit this beautiful autumn landscape, what part would you explore first—the maple trees, the shrine, or the bridge? Why would you pick that spot?

Add our START WITH ART calendar to yours by clicking here then click "add." Share how you're folding this into your daily routine by tagging us on Instagram @pageofarthistory and/or the tag #startwithart 🖼️