Italo-American Celebration, Washington Square 1912

William Glackens painted Italo-American Celebration, Washington Square with oil on canvas using short brushstrokes of blues, greens, reds, and browns. I can imagine him standing there, surrounded by the buzz of the crowd, trying to capture the energy and excitement of the parade. There's a feeling of movement, like the scene is still unfolding right before our eyes. The paint isn't too thick, but you can see the individual strokes. The Triumphal Arch shimmers with an uncanny glow, acting as a backdrop to the throng of spectators. Glackens captures the spirit of the city, the way the light filters through the trees, the faces in the crowd. It's like he's inviting us to join the celebration, to experience the vibrancy and diversity of urban life. Glackens reminds me a bit of the French Impressionists. He's taking something ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary, finding beauty in the everyday. Painting is about process, about the dialogue between the artist and the canvas, the push and pull of intuition and intention.