Duck Island, Isles of Shoals 1906

Childe Hassam created this watercolor painting of Duck Island, Isles of Shoals with loose brushstrokes and a cool palette. The painting emerges through a fluid layering of blues, browns, and soft pinks. I can almost feel the ocean breeze and the dampness of the rocks. It must have been quite something to stand there with his watercolor box, trying to capture the essence of this rugged, coastal scene! The quick, impressionistic strokes give it a sense of immediacy, like he was racing against the changing light and tides. I love how the blues bleed and blend, creating depth and atmosphere. Hassam's focus wasn't just on depicting the scene accurately, but also capturing a particular moment in time. It's this sense of fleeting beauty that reminds me of other impressionist painters like Monet. Artists are always in conversation with one another, across time, inspiring each other’s creativity. Painting is a form of embodied expression which embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.