Afternoon Sky, Harney Desert 1908

Childe Hassam painted "Afternoon Sky, Harney Desert" with oils, and to me it really shows the act of painting itself, not just the afternoon sky. The brushstrokes are so visible, like little dashes of color building up the clouds and the field. Looking closely, you can see how much the texture matters. Thick daubs of white and gray make the clouds feel fluffy and weighty, while the field is alive with yellows and greens, each stroke distinct yet blending together. It's like Hassam is saying, "Here's how I saw it, and here's how I made it." This area of blue is particularly interesting. See how the brushstrokes are almost scribbled, giving it a breezy, light-filled quality? Hassam reminds me a bit of Monet, but with a more American feel, like he's capturing the vastness and light of the landscape with a directness that's really appealing. It's a reminder that painting isn't just about representation, it's about the joy and struggle of trying to capture a moment, a feeling, with paint.