Morning Light 1914

Childe Hassam made this painting, *Morning Light*, and in it, he’s used visible brushstrokes and a muted color palette to capture the play of light and shadow in an intimate interior scene. I can imagine Hassam standing before the canvas, squinting slightly as he tries to capture the fleeting effects of the morning light. Look at the way the light filters through the window blinds, creating a dappled effect on the walls and floor. There’s a sense of quiet contemplation, as if the artist is inviting us to pause and appreciate the beauty of everyday moments. I wonder if Hassam was thinking of the Impressionists as he made this? He and Monet were both trying to capture light and atmosphere, but Hassam brings something of his own to the table, a kind of cozy, domestic poetry. It’s all part of the long, ongoing conversation artists have with one another. I like that.