Seascape 1888

Editor: Here we have William Merritt Chase's "Seascape," created in 1888. It seems to be a watercolor capturing a hazy day at sea. I’m struck by how subdued the color palette is and by how it focuses on maritime activity. What can you tell me about the context of this piece? Curator: Chase’s impressionistic seascapes, often rendered en plein air, reflect a broader engagement with leisure and maritime subjects during the late 19th century. The rise of industrialization allowed for increased mobility and recreational seaside activities for the middle class, which made the imagery of boats and shorelines quite marketable and resonant with urban audiences seeking an escape. What impact might Chase's art school activities have? Editor: He co-founded the Shinnecock Hills Summer School of Art on Long Island... So his art was informed by art instruction, teaching, and artistic collaboration with the New York students going to study out-of-doors during their summer break? Curator: Exactly. Art schools started reflecting socio-economic shifts towards the growing popularity of recreational outdoor painting, capturing leisure as a symbol of upward mobility and progress. These types of works appealed to those who saw these pursuits as part of an elevated social standing. Would you agree that this painting reflects that sensibility? Editor: Absolutely! Thinking about it that way really contextualizes what he painted, beyond just what was visually interesting. I am more able to tie it to societal shifts. Curator: Understanding art’s role in mirroring and shaping society allows us to analyze art in new lights and how artists navigated prevailing social values. It's so much more than aesthetics; it reflects back to us our ever-evolving relationship to place, leisure and, to each other.