Mrs. Holley of Cos Cob, Connecticut 1912

Childe Hassam daubed these loose brushstrokes onto canvas to render Mrs. Holley in Connecticut, sometime during his Impressionist period. Look how that paint sits on the surface, thick in some places, thin in others, catching the light. I’m imagining Hassam outside with his easel, squinting in the sun, trying to catch that hazy atmosphere. There’s something about the way Mrs. Holley is depicted, as just another object amongst the furniture, that feels slightly detached. Perhaps Hassam was more interested in exploring light and color than capturing a likeness. It makes me think about other painters who used domestic settings to explore interior states, like Vuillard or Bonnard. Ultimately, this piece is about a moment in time, a fleeting impression captured with vibrant strokes, and an invitation for us to find our own meanings within the energetic surface of the painting. It reminds us that art is a conversation across time, each artist building on the ideas of those who came before.