In the Park, Paris 1889

Childe Hassam created this oil painting, "In the Park, Paris," using traditional techniques of the time. Hassam expertly layers paint to build up depth and texture, creating a soft, shimmering effect. The visible brushstrokes give a sense of movement, capturing the fleeting light and atmosphere of the Parisian park. This approach was very deliberate, and a world away from the techniques of earlier academic painting, which valued a smooth, invisible surface. The painting's appeal lies in its apparent spontaneity, but this belies the labor and skill required to achieve such a seemingly effortless effect. This way of painting reflects the growth of leisure time for the middle classes, as they sought enjoyment in these urban settings. Hassam’s painting reminds us that even seemingly simple scenes are the product of careful construction and the skilled manipulation of materials, and also that the techniques of painting must always be understood in relation to the social and economic conditions in which they were made.