Elms, East Hampton, New York 1920

Childe Hassam made this painting of Elms in East Hampton, New York with oil on canvas, and it’s a real study in light and color. The way he’s dabbed the paint on, it's almost like he’s trying to catch the air itself. Look at how the sunlight filters through the trees, each leaf rendered with a quick, distinct stroke. The colors are so vibrant, yet they blend together to create this hazy, almost dreamlike scene. You can almost feel the warmth of the sun on your skin and hear the rustling of the leaves. Then there's the texture – thick, almost sculptural in places. It’s like he’s not just painting what he sees, but also how it feels to be there, in that moment. This way of capturing a fleeting moment reminds me of Monet, but Hassam has his own distinctly American take on Impressionism. It’s like he’s saying, "Hey, we have beauty here too."