Park Monceau, Paris 1897

Childe Hassam painted this view of the Parc Monceau in Paris with oil on canvas. It is, in a sense, a modern pastoral scene; it reflects the growth of Paris and the development of leisure pursuits during the late 19th century. Hassam was an American Impressionist painter, and the work is an exercise in the visual codes of impressionism. We see the dappled light, the focus on the leisure activities of the bourgeoisie, and the depiction of modern life in France, as well as the echoes of artists such as Monet and Renoir. The Impressionists were often criticized by the establishment, but they gradually gained acceptance and even came to define the image of Parisian modernity. To understand the painting better, we might turn to archives about Parisian history, urban planning, and the changing social structures of late 19th century France. We can then appreciate the social and institutional contexts that shaped its creation and reception.