Italo-American Celebration, Washington Square 1912

William James Glackens captured “Italo-American Celebration, Washington Square” on canvas, using oil paint, sometime in the early 20th century. What strikes me most is the artist’s process, the short, choppy brushstrokes creating a sense of movement. Looking closely, I can almost feel the rough texture of the paint. Glackens layers colors, dabs of blue and green, evoking the bustling atmosphere of a parade. See that small, almost hidden figure in the crowd, slightly blurred? It reminds me that paintings are never just about a perfect depiction. They're about catching a moment, an impression, an emotion. Glackens, with his almost impressionistic style, reminds me of other artists who were interested in capturing the fleeting moments of city life, like Maurice Prendergast. But in Glackens, there is a grit and realism. A piece like this shows that art is not about having one right answer but about the ongoing dialogue, the dance of ideas across time.