Dragon Cloud, Old Lyme 1903

Childe Hassam made this painting probably outside in the sun, working fast with soft brushstrokes and a bright palette of blues, greens, yellows, and whites. I wonder how long it took him? You know, I often find myself thinking about what it must have been like for painters back then, lugging all that gear around, setting up the easel, mixing the colors just right—it's a real commitment! I can almost feel Hassam’s hand moving across the canvas, trying to capture the fleeting moment of light on the dragon cloud, just there for a second. I think the almost manicured surface gives the painting a feeling of vibrant energy, as if the landscape itself is alive and breathing. It reminds me that making a painting is like having a conversation across time and space.