Mrs. Hassam at Villiers-le-Bel 1888

Childe Hassam made this oil on canvas painting, "Mrs. Hassam at Villiers-le-Bel," sometime in the late 19th century. It depicts a woman, presumably Mrs. Hassam, amidst lush greenery and blossoming flowers. This work reflects the rise of Impressionism in France and America, where artists sought to capture fleeting moments and the effects of light and color on the natural world. The subject matter, a woman in a garden, evokes the leisure and domesticity enjoyed by the upper-middle classes of the time, whilst also harkening back to older academic traditions of portraiture. Villiers-le-Bel, near Paris, became a popular spot for artists seeking refuge from the city and inspiration in the countryside. To truly understand this artwork, we can delve into the social history of Impressionism and the changing roles of women in Western society. Archival sources, letters, and exhibition records from the time can offer a better understanding of Hassam's artistic choices and their place in a broader cultural context.