The Princess

Adult: 

Helen? 

Helene: 

Mm. 

Adult: 

We are standing in front of a great painting by the artist Hanna Pauli. 

Helene: 

Mm. 

Adult: 

You're ten years old, aren't you? 

Helene: 

Yes. 

Adult: 

How old do you think the girl in this painting is? 

Helene: 

I think she looks like she's about 13 years old. 

Adult: 

What kind of girl do you think she is? 

Helene: 

I think she looks like a typical princess. 

Adult: 

Yes! The painting is actually called “The Princess”, and she looks like a real princess from the old days. Perhaps she lived many hundreds of years ago, in the Middle Ages, when there were knights on horseback, and princes and princesses lived in huge castles and fortresses made of stone. But what do you think it’s like to be a princess then? 

Helene: 

Pretty cool, but also a bit lonely, maybe? She looks a little serious. 

Adult: 

What is it about her that makes you think that? 

Helene: 

Maybe the way she’s looking at us? 

Adult: 

What does the way she’s looking at us tell you? 

Helene: 

Maybe like, can't I just have a normal life? 

Adult: 

What do you mean? 

Helene: 

That if you are a princess, the only thing you have are lots of servants, and your mum and dad. And you always have to go to balls and things. You never seem to make any friends. Because you don't have a completely normal life, like everyone else, and maybe you don't go to school. Yeah, I don't know. 

Adult: 

How does that feel? 

Helene: 

Mm, maybe a bit like, a bit stupid because then you don't get to develop yourself. And to get to do what you want, and feel is right for you. And you don't get to learn what everyone else has the opportunity to learn. 

Adult: 

What do you think she will do? 

Helene: 

Maybe she's just planning to run away. Out in the forest. Yeah… Just get as far away from the castle as possible. Get away from all that princess stuff and just have some freedom.