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13 September – 8 March 2009 | Children’s Gallery

The National Gallery of Australia is encouraging young visitors, through the Picture my world project, to comment and respond to works of art in the national collection. Please join the discussion by sending your comments or artistic responses on the work below to PictureMyWorld@nga.gov.au.

Robert McFarlane Grandmother Lily McFarlane (née Gelsthorpe Brimage) at a dinner for her 77th birthday at our family home at Downing Street, Brighton, Adelaide 1964 gelatin silver photograph National Gallery of Australia, Canberra more detail

Grandmother Lily McFarlane

They’re going to eat the cake. They’re all going to eat the cake. The dark bit looks like a bedroom.
Lamita, 4 years old

There is a jar, an aboriginal drawing and a cup. I can also see fire.
Miles, 4 years old

On my birthday there are some presents, some people come over to my house. They play pass the parcel. They have some things to eat and drink. Mummy and Daddy get it all ready.
Jett, 4 years old

I see cake and candles. They’re having a birthday. There is a person hiding because she must want to see the cake.
Kayden, 4 years old

I see candles, it is someone’s birthday. The old woman, she is a grandma. She is 45. I don’t know who the boy is. That’s the mummy.
Riley, 4 years old

They are celebrating a birthday with a birthday cake. Can we do another picture?
Tayla

Well it is someone’s birthday time, there is a birthday cake. Her name is Rose, she is old and she knows them.
Isobel, 4 years old

A conversation between preschool children:

They’re lighting candles — they’re having a birthday.
Robert, 5 years old

It’s grandma’s birthday — she’s sitting in front of a cake. I had a chocolate cake once.
Eve, 5 years old

I think they don’t have a dad or a mum. Their grandma’s looking after them.
Robert, 5 years old

We put the cake on the big table at home.
Dylan, 4 years old

Why’s the picture brown? Is it old?
Georgina, 4 years old

Children's responses