PICTURE THIS
Have you ever looked at an old photograph and wondered what life was like for the people in the picture? Maybe you have seen a painting or drawing that captures an interesting moment or event. Some pictures can tell stories. If you examine a work of art carefully, you may find that it contains what most written stories contain: characters, action, themes, symbols, and sometimes even a plot. Works that tell visual stories are often called narrative art. It is up to us as viewers to "read" the story in a work of art and understand its meaning. To do this, we may need to learn more about the content of a painting. We may also need to use our own imaginations to fill in the details that make a story come alive. So, get ready. You are about to learn firsthand what is meant by the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

Browse through the sites in your Artist's Passport to find pictures worth a thousand words. Study the pictures carefully, then select two that attract you or tell a message or story. Click on the button that will print out your worksheet. Answer the questions for both works, then compose your own story for one of the pictures.

Artist's Passport Web Links

Lascaux Caves

Egyptian Book of the Dead
Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Tale of Genji
The Tale of Genji

Tres Riches Heures, by Duc du Berry

Hokusai Woodblock Prints

Murals

Story Quilt, by Faith Ringgold