Treading Clams, Wickford 1909

William James Glackens made "Treading Clams, Wickford" with oil on canvas, we don't know exactly when. The brushwork is so active, it almost feels like the paint itself is treading water! The way he’s dabbed and swirled the blues and greens reminds me of how Monet tried to capture light, but Glackens brings a certain American grittiness to it. Look at the rocks in the foreground, they're built up with these short, choppy strokes of oranges and browns, so tactile you can practically feel the texture of the sand and barnacles. Then there’s that figure wading into the water. It’s just a few dark marks, but it gives the whole scene a narrative, a human presence. Glackens’ work always has this lively energy. He was part of the Ashcan School, painting everyday life with a real sense of immediacy, a bit like how Manet captured modern life in Paris, but with a Rhode Island accent. It’s about the moment, the process, and embracing the messiness of it all.