North Beach Swimming Pool 1916

William Glackens made 'North Beach Swimming Pool' with oil on canvas. It's like he's right there with us, squinting in the sun. The brushwork is juicy, broken color all over. Look at the way he's laid down those strokes, kinda short and choppy, right? The paint isn't trying to hide anything, it's all about the gesture. It feels so process-oriented; each dab of color seems like a little decision, a little moment of looking and responding. I mean check out that red roof—how the strokes vibrate and shimmer, making it almost pulsate. Now, focus on the figures in the foreground. They're not super detailed, but they are built up from these dashes of color, a kind of shorthand for human presence. Glackens captures the feel of a sunny day at the beach, the warmth, the casualness, a fleeting moment of leisure. You could say it's almost impressionistic, but with a New York grit, you know? Like a slightly grittier version of something Monet might paint. It's about capturing an experience, not just a picture.