Bridge at Old Lyme 1908

Childe Hassam, painted this bridge at Old Lyme, probably 'en plein air,' with visible brushstrokes of ochre, blue, and white. Imagine him, squinting in the sunlight trying to capture not just the scene, but the fleeting quality of light itself. The paint is applied in thick dabs and dashes, a technique typical of Impressionism, giving everything a shimmering, alive appearance. Look how each stroke seems to vibrate with light, especially in the sky, the reflection on the water, and the way the path curves into the distance. I am curious about that figure on the bridge. Are they thinking about where they are going or where they have been? Maybe Hassam was thinking about the conversations between artists and their work, how we build on each other's vision. Each mark here embodies feeling, intention, and meaning. It reminds me of Monet's exploration of light or even Van Gogh’s expressive brushwork, where artists try to capture a feeling, an atmosphere, a moment.