Adams and St. Helen's, Early Morning 1887

Childe Hassam made this watercolor landscape, Adams and St. Helen's, Early Morning, during his time in the United States. This painting captures the serene beauty of nature, but it also reflects the cultural values of its time. Think about the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. Industrialization was rapidly changing the landscape, and many artists sought refuge in depicting untouched natural scenes. These images were a form of escapism. Hassam's style is influenced by French Impressionism, which itself was born out of social changes in Europe. Artists were breaking away from academic traditions and focusing on capturing fleeting moments in nature. Here in the US, it speaks to a desire to preserve and appreciate the natural world amidst growing urbanization. Art historians use a variety of sources to understand these contexts better, from exhibition reviews to personal letters, helping us to see how art both reflects and shapes the society in which it is made.