Hammerstein's Roof Garden 1901

William James Glackens made this oil on canvas, Hammerstein's Roof Garden, with all the visible brushstrokes, like he was painting a fleeting memory. The whole scene shimmers in blues, grays, and whites, a cool palette for a hot night out. I love how Glackens captures the energy of the moment, the performers on stage with their parasols. Imagine him, maybe a little sweaty, trying to capture the fleeting movements of the dancers and the hushed anticipation of the crowd. I think he's also picturing Degas, the way the dancers are cropped, it is like he is asking a question back to the French master. The paint is applied so loosely, like he's suggesting rather than defining. The textures almost create the feeling of a hazy, dreamlike memory. There's an ongoing conversation happening between artists, across time, inspiring each other’s creativity, wouldn't you say?