Cityscape 1888

Childe Hassam made this cityscape, now in a private collection, using watercolor and graphite. Hassam lived through a period of rapid urbanization and industrialization. The people depicted seem to blur together, reflecting the experience of the modern city, where individuals can feel anonymous amidst the crowd. Consider how Hassam’s impressionistic technique captures a moment in time. The soft, diffused light and indistinct forms create a sense of movement and change, mirroring the dynamism of urban life. But who gets to participate in this modern life? The figures here appear predominantly white and middle-class, hinting at the social and economic divides that shaped the city. While presenting the allure of modernity, Hassam's work also invites us to think about who is included and excluded from this vision of progress. The emotional tone evokes a sense of fleeting beauty, tinged with the awareness of urban alienation.