Kiki Smith (American, born in Germany, b. 1954)
Kneeling Woman with Rabbit, 2004
Collaged photo-lithographs and photo-etchings with pen and ink on Nepalese paper
Understanding Big Ideas Through Careful Looking
At Children’s Art Studio, we believe that art is more than picture-making — it is a language. Just as children learn to read letters and words, they can also learn to “read” images, gestures, and objects in art.
This practice — discovering meaning through attentive observation — empowers children to grow into thoughtful, curious, culturally aware humans.
Today, we’ll walk through how we guide young artists to explore symbolism using the artwork above as an example.
Looking Closely: What Do We Notice?
When children first encounter an artwork, we begin with simple observation:
- What do you see?
- Who is here?
- What is happening?
- What materials do you think the artist used?
With this piece, children often notice:
- A person kneeling calmly
- A rabbit held carefully in their hands
- Soft lines and textures
- Layered, aged-looking paper
This step teaches children to be present and attentive — to truly look before jumping to interpretation.
Moving Toward Meaning: How Do We Feel?
Next, we ask:
- How does this picture make you feel?
- If this scene had a sound, what would it be?
- What do you think is happening here?
Some children say:
“It feels calm.”
“It looks gentle.”
“It seems like they are taking care of the rabbit.”
The emotional response becomes a doorway into symbolic thinking.
Symbols in Art: What Might These Images Mean?
We then explore the idea that objects in art can represent ideas.
For example, in many cultures, rabbits symbolize:
- gentleness
- vulnerability
- protection
- luck
- transformation
Children might wonder:
- Is the figure protecting the rabbit?
- Is the rabbit a friend, a pet, or a spirit guide?
- Is the rabbit part of a story we can’t see?
None of these questions need a single answer — the goal is for students to recognize that art invites interpretation.
Why Symbolism Matters
Teaching symbolism isn’t about telling children what to think.
It teaches them:
- To observe closely
- To make connections
- To trust their imagination
- To value multiple perspectives
These skills carry far beyond the studio — into reading, writing, social understanding, and emotional growth.
Our Classroom Approach
Our process-based lessons guide children through:
- Exploration
They interact with the image, freely sharing ideas. - Interpretation
They build meaning from clues: gesture, setting, objects. - Creation
They make their own artwork using symbolic objects or characters that are meaningful to them.
A child might choose a fox, a flower, or a treasured everyday object to represent part of their story. They learn that their experiences can be expressed visually — and that personal meaning matters.
Art Helps Children Tell Their Stories
This artwork reminds us that pictures can hold emotional and symbolic worlds. A kneeling figure with a rabbit becomes a story about care, mystery, and connection.
When children are given the tools to interpret symbolism, they begin to understand:
Art isn’t only something we look at —
It’s something we can read and feel.
At Children’s Art Studio, that’s the heart of our teaching:
empowering children to understand themselves and the world through creative expression.
