A LEARNING LINK TO NORTON SIMON MUSEUM

Explore Holland

When you think of Holland, what springs to mind? Maybe you imagine tulips, windmills, canals, or klompen (wooden shoes). Perhaps you have eaten the delicious cheese which is produced in this European country. The dairy industry has played an important role in Holland's economy so it should come as no surprise to find cows featured in paintings by Dutch artists.

"Evening in the Meadows," painted in the mid-1650s by Aelbert Cuyp, shows a young woman squeezing cow's milk into a bucket. Two other cows rest peacefully on a hillside. What makes these three cows different from those you have seen? If you guessed that they are much bigger, especially in relation to the milkmaid, you would be correct. Why do you think the artist made these animals appear so large?

"Evening in the Meadows"

Further up the river, a cluster of men and children stand on a dock. We assume the men have just gotten off boats after a day's work. If you look carefully in the distance, you will find a windmill. With its four arms which are called sails, this wind-powered machine was an essential part of everyday life. One of a windmill's functions was to grind grain. As the sails whirled in the air, stones inside the windmill would rub together, turning small, hard seeds of wheat into flour. Windmills also served as a vital source of water management, pumping excess water off the land. Holland lies below sea level which makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding.

You can explore Holland at the Norton Simon Museum's new children's program, "Once Upon A Time," this Sunday, May 6 from 2-3:30 p.m. Children's book author Gretchen Woelfle will read "Katje the Windmill Cat," the story of a cat's heroic rescue of a baby during a terrible flood. A workshop follows in which you can make a pinwheel that blows in the wind, create a colorful collage in the traditional windmill quilt pattern or illustrate your own version of the book. Museum admission is always free for children 18 and under. For more information, go to http://www.nortonsimon.org or call (626) 844-6980.

This Learning Link was provided by the Education Department at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, where the 210 and 134 freeways meet.

Kids, click here to find more Learning Links.

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Explore Holland

"Evening in the Meadows"