Avenue of the Allies; Brazil, Belgium 1918

Childe Hassam made this painting, Avenue of the Allies; Brazil, Belgium, with oil on canvas. The thick paint is dabbed on with such energy, it’s like Hassam was trying to catch the light and the very air moving through the avenue, which is strung with allied flags. You can feel the impulse and pace of the brush as it creates a sense of depth and movement. Imagine standing in the middle of this scene, craning your neck to see the flags rippling in the breeze. Look at the blues and greens of the flags, how they pop against the red of the British flag. It's like Hassam is saying, "I'm here, I'm seeing this, and I'm going to put it all down, right now.” Painters are constantly inspired by each other and this piece makes me think about Monet, who was also trying to seize hold of a moment, to capture the fleeting impressions of light and atmosphere. The flags almost dissolve in front of your eyes! Ultimately, this painting reminds me that we are all connected through the shared experience of art.