Sky Blue 

Jeff Jamison’s “Sky Blue” captures a contemporary beach scene with a focus on the transient qualities of light and atmosphere. The loose brushwork and pastel hues give the scene an ethereal quality. Paintings of leisure activities, like going to the beach, are revealing of social history. Think back to the 19th-century Impressionists, for instance. They captured the emergence of the middle class and the new phenomenon of leisure time in urban life. What do we see here? Beach scenes have become more democratic, more familiar. Instead of the bourgeoisie at play, we see here an anonymous crowd. There are few markers of social distinction. Instead, we see just ordinary people enjoying simple pleasures. To understand this work fully, we might look at social trends related to leisure, travel, and recreation in America. What role has technology played? What about the decline of religion? These are just some of the many areas a good social art historian might investigate.