Love Letters to Art

If you could write a love letter to a work of art, what would it say?

There are so many reasons to love a work of art. Maybe it's a painting with your favorite color, a drawing that reminds you of a fun memory, or a sculpture that makes you think of someone you love.

On Valentine's Day, kids at the Museum wrote their own love letters to art in The Met Collection. The activity was called "Love Notes." You can read a few of their amazing letters here!

Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917). The Dance Lesson, ca. 1879. Pastel and black chalk on three pieces of wove paper, joined together, 25 3/8 x 22 1/8 in. (64.5 x 56.2 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. H.O. Havemeyer Collection, Gift of Adaline Havemeyer Perkins, in memory of her father, Horace Havemeyer, 1971 (1971.185)

''I like that the ballerina is dancing to the music with the violin. I wonder which song he's playing."

—Valentina, age 5

Claude Monet (French, 1840–1926). Camille Monet (1847–1879) in the Garden at Argenteuil, 1876. Oil on canvas, 32 1/8 x 23 5/8 in. (81.6 x 60 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Collection, Gift of Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, 2000, Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002 (2000.93.1)

''I like this art because the texture of the painting is great and the subject matter is very pretty.''

—Isabel, age 12

Openwork furniture plaque with the head of a feline. Assyrian, ca. 9th–8th century B.C. Mesopotamia, Nimrud (ancient Kalhu). Ivory, 2.09 x 1.89 x 0.94 in. (5.31 x 4.8 x 2.39 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Rogers Fund, 1962 (62.269.10)

''I like this because one of my favorite animals is a cat.''

—Dylan, age 7

Gerard ter Borch the Younger (Dutch, 1617–1681). Curiosity, ca. 1660-62. Oil on canvas, 30 x 24 1/2 in. (76.2 x 62.2 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The Jules Bache Collection, 1949 (4.9.7.38)

''I love this painting because it gives me a picture of what it would look like long ago.''

—Eva, Age 7

Saltcellar. Paris, France, mid-13th century. Gold, rock crystal, emeralds, pearls, spinel or balas rubies, H. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm); Diam. of foot: 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The Cloisters Collection, 1983 (1983.434)

''I like this photo because it is like royalty and I have always thought of myself being royal. That is why I love it.''

—Charlotte, 10

To celebrate Valentine's Day, would you like to show your favorite artwork some love, too?

Tell us in the comments below why a special artwork makes your heart sing. Want to find a new object of your affection? Explore the MetKids map to discover a new favorite. Maybe it will be love at first sight.

Visit #MetKids, a digital feature made for, with, and by kids! Discover fun facts about works of art, hop in our time machine, watch behind-the-scenes videos, and get ideas for your own creative projects.