Reflections (Kitty Hughes) 1917

Childe Hassam made this painting, Reflections (Kitty Hughes) with oil, layering oranges, reds and yellows over a scumbled ground. I can almost feel the weight of the paint, applied with short, choppy strokes. Look at how the brushwork creates a vibrating surface, capturing a fleeting moment of light and atmosphere. You know, sometimes painting feels like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. I bet Hassam felt that too, chasing after the shimmering reflections and the subtle play of light on the woman's skin. The way he uses these fractured brushstrokes, it reminds me of the Impressionists, but with a more personal touch. It’s like he’s not just recording what he sees, but also how he feels. Each stroke loaded with intention, yet still open to chance, accident. It's like Hassam's saying, "Here, look at this world with me, not just as it is, but as it could be, as it feels." That’s what keeps us painters going, the endless possibilities, the ongoing conversation with color and form.