Art Class Curator

Hands-on and Minds-curious Art Learning

20 Great Artworks to Look at with Young Kids

The Art Curator for Kids - Art History Round-Up 20 Great Artworks to Look at with Young KidsI’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to help parents talk about works of art with their toddlers and preschoolers. To help you get comfortable talking about art with your kids, I’ve put together a list of 20 artworks that work well with toddlers and preschoolers.

My two-year-old sat on my lap while I was finding the artworks, so many of these are Zuzu-approved! 🙂  These are in no order, but the first one was Zuzu’s favorite!

I’ve included the pictures below (or a link to them if they are copyrighted), and at the end, I’ve provided a free download to a PowerPointwith most of the images.

  1. Henri Rousseau, The Dream, 1910, The Museum of Modern Art, New York

    Henri Rousseau, The Dream, 1910, The Museum of Modern Art, New York

  2. Edward Hicks, The Peaceable Kingdom (1826), National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

    Edward Hicks, The Peaceable Kingdom (1826), National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

  3. Grant Wood, Parson Weems’ Fable, 1939 – http://www.cartermuseum.org/artworks/269

  4. Marc Chagall, Paris Through My Window, 1913, Oil on canvas, Guggenheim Museum, New YorkMarc Chagall, Paris Through My Window, 1913, Oil on canvas, Guggenheim Museum, New York

  5. Marc Chagall, The Violinist, 1912-1913, Oil on canvas, Stedelijk Museum, AmsterdamMarc Chagall, The Violinist, 1912-1913, Oil on canvas, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam

  6. Melissa Miller, Ghost Net, 2013 – http://melissamillerartist.com/2002-2014/oils/view/92

  7. Pablo Picasso, Three Musicians, 1921, MOMAPablo Picasso, Three Musicians, 1921

  8. Diego Velazquez, Las Meninas, 1656, Oil on canvas, Museo del Prado, MadridDiego Velazquez, Las Meninas, 1656, Oil on canvas, Museo del Prado, Madrid

  9. Paul Gauguin, We Hail Thee Mary (La Orana Maria), 1891, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkPaul Gauguin, We Hail Thee Mary, 1891, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

  10. Paul Gauguin, Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?, 1897, Museum of Fine Arts, BostonPaul Gauguin, Where Do We Come From-What Are We-Where Are We Going, 1897, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

  11. Carmen Lomas Garza, Empanadas, 1991 – http://carmenlomasgarza.com/artwork/paintings/ (Image 17)

  12. Seth Eastman, Ballplay of the Dakota on the St. Peters River in Winter, 1848, oil on canvas, Amon Carter MuseumSeth Eastman, Ballplay of the Dakota on the St. Peters River in Winter, 1848, oil on canvas, Amon Carter Museum

  13. Thomas Cole, The Hunter’s Return, 1845, oil on canvas, Amon Carter MuseumThomas Cole, The Hunter’s Return, 1845

  14. Pieter Bruegel, Children’s Games, 1560, Oil on oak panel, Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, ViennaPieter Bruegel, Children's Games, 1560, Oil on oak panel, Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna

  15. Indian, Ganesha, 1st half 11th century, muscovite biotite schist, Walters Art MuseumIndian, Ganesha, 1st half 11th century, muscovite biotite schist, Walters Art Museum

  16. Hashimoto Chikanobu, A Group of Children Playing under the Plum Blossoms in the Snow, 1887, Japanese Woodblock print, Metropolitan Museum of ArtHashimoto Chikanobu, A Group of Children Playing under the Plum Blossoms in the Snow, 1887, Japanese Woodblock print, Metropolitan Museum of Art

  17. Joan Miro, Dutch Interior I, 1928 – http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=79023

  18. Egyptian, Nebamun hunting in the marshes, fragment of a scene from the tomb-chapel of Nebamun, Late 18th Dynasty, around 1350 BCE, The British MuseumEgyptian, Nebamun hunting in the marshes, fragment of a scene from the tomb-chapel of Nebamun, Late 18th Dynasty, around 1350 B

  19. André Derain, The Dance, 1906André Derain, The Dance, 1906

  20. Mary Cassatt, Summertime, 1894Mary Cassatt, Summertime, 1894

 

 

To download a PowerPoint of most of these images, click here.

Download PowerPoint

Look at one or more of these with your littles and let me know how it went in the comments. Which one was your child’s favorite?

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