Peach Blossoms - Villiers-le-Bel 1889

Childe Hassam made this painting of peach blossoms in Villiers-le-Bel using oil paints on canvas. These were the typical materials of the Impressionist painters, who were less concerned with the status of the work as a precious object, and more with the immediacy of perception. Hassam applied the paint in short, loose strokes, capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Look closely and you'll notice how the texture of the paint itself becomes part of the image. It's easy to imagine him standing outside, en plein air, rapidly laying down marks to capture the scene before him. Unlike academic painting, where brushstrokes are invisible, the materiality of the paint and the process of applying it are vital to the overall effect. This emphasis on the physical act of painting helped to pave the way for later movements that celebrated the raw, expressive qualities of materials and making. So next time you see an Impressionist landscape, remember that it is not just a pretty scene, but a record of a very particular way of seeing and working.