START WITH ART: The Pancake Woman

Starting your day with art can be a transformative experience for both children and adults alike. Engaging with artwork not only stimulates creativity but also fosters critical thinking skills. Here’s how you can incorporate this enriching practice into your daily routine.

Step 1: Observe the Artwork Pictured in this Blog Post!

Begin each morning by examining a piece of art. This could be a painting, sculpture, or any other form of visual art. Take a moment to really look at the details, colors, and emotions conveyed in the piece. We’ve curated art for you on this Google calender! 

Step 2: Engage with Thought-Provoking Questions

Once you’ve taken a good look at the artwork, ask the children in your life some guiding questions. We’ve listed some below the artwork here on this blog post.

These questions encourage children to articulate their thoughts and feelings about what they see, promoting dialogue and deeper understanding.

Step 3: Ignite Creativity and Critical Thinking

By starting your day with art, you set a tone of curiosity and exploration. This practice can lead to discussions later in the day, whether at the dinner table or during evening reading sessions. Children will have had time to reflect on the artwork and may come back with new insights or creative ideas inspired by their morning experience.

Let’s START WITH ART!

Title: The Pancake Woman

Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn

Date: 1635

Medium: Etching

Start with Art Questions:

• Look closely at how Rembrandt used lines and shading in this etching. How do you think the dark and light areas help create depth and make the scene feel busy?

• Notice the different expressions on the faces of the people around the pancake woman. How do their reactions to the food help you imagine the smells and sounds of the busy market?

• Compare this etching to the painting Pancake Seller by Gerrit Dou from yesterday. What similarities and differences do you notice?

Don't forget to 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 🖼️