The Old Road to the Sea c. 1893

Editor: We’re looking at William Merritt Chase’s “The Old Road to the Sea,” painted around 1893. It's an oil painting, very much in the Impressionist style. I’m immediately struck by how quiet and peaceful it feels. The colors are so muted and soft. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, isn’t it lovely? For me, this isn't just a landscape; it's a whisper of a memory. Chase painted it en plein air, meaning he was right there, feeling the sea breeze. That quietness you perceive? It's the land breathing, I think, inviting us to consider… well, what does it invite *you* to consider? The road stretches toward the sea, a simple path, a journey. Are we starting one, or returning? Editor: That’s a good point. I was so focused on the peacefulness that I missed that sense of journeying. The road *does* invite you in. Curator: Exactly! The Impressionists were less concerned with photo-realistic detail and more invested in capturing the *feeling* of a place. And Chase does this brilliantly. Notice how the sky seems to melt into the land? Those blurry edges are the edges of a fleeting moment, a memory painted in strokes. Almost makes me wish I was there, on that old road. Wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. I really see the effect you mean, of melting colors, and of course the impression of that fleeting moment of light. I find I see more depth in it each time I glance at it! Thank you for offering that new perspective. Curator: The pleasure is all mine! Art like this? It’s a conversation between the artist, the subject, and, now, us. I love it.