Celia Thaxter's Garden, Isles of Shoals, Maine 1890

Childe Hassam made "Celia Thaxter's Garden" with oil on canvas, working in an Impressionist style. Hassam has translated the visual experience of Celia Thaxter’s garden into a mosaic of paint. Notice how the materiality of oil paint influences the image. It’s not just a rendering of the garden, but also an arrangement of brushstrokes. We see the garden, but we’re also aware of the artist's hand, and the way he methodically applied each dab of pigment. Hassam was working within a tradition of plein air painting – taking his easel into nature. This practice emerged with the availability of pre-mixed paints in tubes, enabling artists to capture fleeting impressions of light and color, and encouraging a more intimate connection with the landscape. By focusing on the sensory experience of the garden, Hassam invites us to reflect on the beauty of nature and the process of artistic creation itself. Ultimately, "Celia Thaxter's Garden" bridges the gap between observation and active engagement, celebrating both the subject and the artist's craft.