New England Road 1902

Childe Hassam made this painting, New England Road, with quick marks and dabs of bright colour, all mixed together. I can imagine him out in the landscape, watching the light and rapidly trying to capture it. I wonder, when he stood there, working, did he feel part of a long tradition, of folks trying to capture the light, the air, the feeling of being outside? I bet he was thinking about other paintings too, not just the place. The ground looks thick with paint, all yellows and browns, like the leaves themselves got squashed onto the canvas. See that figure in blue? A slash of pure colour, holding the whole scene together. Hassam was part of a whole generation of painters, like Monet and Pissarro, obsessed with light and atmosphere. There’s a real generosity in that way of seeing, of sharing a moment, and saying, "Hey, look at this, isn't it amazing?" And that impulse, that generosity, keeps artists talking to each other across time, inspiring each other to see and feel.