The Flag Outside Her Window, April (aka Boys Marching By) 1918

Childe Hassam made "The Flag Outside Her Window, April" with oil paint. I love the way Hassam uses these warm, almost golden tones, it's like the whole world is lit from within. You can see how the brushstrokes are kind of broken, almost like little dabs of color, which is a total Impressionist move. Look at the woman's dress. Notice how the white is not just white, it's a mix of blues, yellows, pinks. What I find really interesting is how he captures the light filtering through the curtains, illuminating the woman's face. You can almost feel the softness of the fabric. It makes the scene so intimate, like we're intruding on a private moment. You can see this mix of public and private in the flag on the left. Hassam’s flag paintings remind me of Jasper Johns, but with more warmth and less irony. It’s all about how we see, how we feel, and how art keeps the conversation going.