Back of the Old House 1916

Childe Hassam made this watercolour, "Back of the Old House" by looking closely and working quickly, deciding what to put in, and what to leave out. The speedy marks bring an intimacy to the painting. Hassam's brushwork is light, almost casual. It’s like he’s sketching with paint, laying down washes of colour that define the shapes of the house and the surrounding greenery, but without getting bogged down in detail. Look at the way he renders the foliage, it's a flurry of greens and blues, suggesting the texture and depth of the leaves without painting each one individually. There’s a patch of shadow falling across the side of the house, rendered in cool blues and purples. It's simple, but it captures the way light and shadow play on the surface. It reminds me a little of John Singer Sargent's watercolours, which are similarly spontaneous and full of light. It's not about capturing every detail, but about capturing a feeling. There's a looseness that invites us to bring our own associations, to fill in the gaps and make the painting our own.