This piece contains some additional resources for educators. Click here to read them.

Additional Resources

Summary & Analysis
Discussion Questions

Summary & Analysis

In the watercolor entitled “Fortitude,” a lighthouse is surrounded by a turbulent sea. Emma Hadzheiva allows the green, yellow, and blue watercolor paints to bleed against each other to show the waves crashing and their force against the lone lighthouse. There is a slight lean in the lighthouse, and viewers almost wonder if it is just holding on, avoiding its collapse. The title “Fortitude” reflects the strength of the small lighthouse against the extreme forces of nature slamming it.

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Discussion Questions

• • Fortitude is defined as “courage through pain or adversity.” Ask your students to share examples of moments when they or others have showed fortitude. Then ask them to consider why this painting is titled “Fortitude.” In what way is the lighthouse showing courage through pain or adversity here?
• • Ask your students to consider the color of the sky in the painting. What time of day is indicated by the color of the sky? How does our understanding of the time of day change how we see or interpret the painting?

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