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The Arts Intel Report

Take One Picture 2024

Aug 1 – Sept 2, 2024
Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DN, UK

Every year, London’s National Gallery challenges U.K. primary school children to create their own artwork inspired by a specific classic. This year, the “Take One Picture” program selected Henri Rousseau’s Surprised!, an 1891 oil painting that depicts a tiger crouching in jungle grasses during a storm. Everything is windblown and there are streaks of lightning in the sky. It is unclear, however, what or who is surprised. Children came at the challenge from many angles. Some took inspiration from the tiger and created projects based on camouflage; others created replicas of the jungle plants surrounding the tiger; still others were concerned about the impact of climate change on tigers and used this opportunity to raise money for conservation charities. Inspiring! —Alice Browne

Photo: The National Gallery