Isles of Shoals, Broad Cove 1911

Childe Hassam made this painting of the Isles of Shoals with oil on canvas, and it's all about the joy of seeing. The way Hassam builds up the rocks, layering these tiny, thick strokes, is like he’s mosaicking the world. Look at how the paint sits up off the canvas, especially in the sunlit areas – the white and yellow pigments seem to shimmer, capturing the light as it hits the craggy surfaces. It's not just about depicting a place, but about recreating the act of looking itself. I love the patch of water, with its blues and greens. You can almost feel the cool, salty spray. It is reminiscent of Monet, but there’s also a raw, American energy to Hassam’s work, a kind of directness that pulls you right into the scene. He’s not just showing you the Isles of Shoals; he's inviting you to feel them.