Portrait of a Girl (Julia J.) 1919

Editor: Here we have Childe Hassam's "Portrait of a Girl (Julia J.)", the date of which is unknown. It's a pencil drawing, seemingly on lined paper. The stark contrast gives it an almost unsettling feel. What can you tell me about how this piece fits into the broader art landscape? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this portrait in the context of Hassam's Impressionist style, which typically focused on landscapes and urban scenes. Why this departure? Was this commissioned or a personal study? The sketch-like quality also offers insight into the artistic process, revealing the artist's hand and immediacy, before the finished, polished painting presented in galleries. Editor: So, it reveals the artist's hand, and the context makes this portrait more personal. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! And that offers an intimacy absent from the more public-facing role of his other art.