Pictures come in kinds. A portrait shows a person. A landscape shows land and sky: hills, trees, rivers. A still life shows things set on a table, like fruit, flowers or a jug.
Key idea
Portrait: a person. Landscape: land and sky. Still life: things on a table.
Why it works
Knowing the kinds helps you talk about art. In a museum, you can say, "This one is a portrait," and look for what the artist shows about the person.
Worked example: Let's look
A painting shows apples and a jug on a table. What kind of picture is it?
- There are no people and no outdoor view.
- Things set on a table make a still life.
Answer: A still life.
Common mistake
Some children call any picture with a person in it a portrait. A portrait is about the person. A big outdoor scene with tiny people far away is a landscape.
For the grown-up. Look through a picture book or a museum website together and sort what you see: "portrait, landscape or still life?" Some pictures mix kinds; that is fine to talk about.