Shingling the First Baptist Church, Gloucester study 1919

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this lovely watercolor by Childe Hassam entitled "Shingling the First Baptist Church, Gloucester study," completed in 1919. Editor: Immediately I'm struck by how light-filled it is. It feels breezy, summery – almost like a memory fading into a warm, nostalgic dream. The colours are quite muted in a calming way. Curator: Yes, and I think it's important to consider the material aspect – the fluidity and translucence of watercolor lend themselves so well to capturing these fleeting, ephemeral moments. It certainly captures the materiality of place. Editor: Exactly. It’s as if Hassam wasn’t just painting a scene but capturing a specific quality of light – the shimmer on the rooftops and foliage that make the colours of that location glow, perhaps referencing Japanese ukiyo-e, but within a uniquely American context. Curator: Ukiyo-e's woodblock print medium is also something mass produced. The location itself, Gloucester, was a hive of activity after WWI, particularly for shipbuilding and fishing. Those labour activities helped boost the artist community nearby. Editor: I love that the church spire seems to anchor the scene, not just visually, but symbolically. The brushwork in contrast to the detailed buildings emphasizes the spiritual and material forces within this scene. It is lovely. Curator: Definitely, and the artist would surely know of the significance and meaning behind it. The physical act of applying the shingle—very labor-intensive and working-class. But that connects back into Hassam’s earlier work which focused a great deal on the everyday life of regular citizens. Editor: Which helps place it right back to that specific historical period too, with an artist so familiar with the visual language, capturing the energy. Well, I find the experience of viewing it today so much more nuanced than initially expected. Curator: Indeed. When considering its materiality and context, this is more than a postcard from Gloucester. Thank you, and be sure to check out some of our other artworks here.