Just Off the Avenue, Fifty-Third Street, May 1916

Childe Hassam painted this street scene in May, using oil on canvas. The blue kinda dominates, right? But it's not just blue, it's a whole spectrum, all these little dashes working together. It’s like, you can see him thinking about how to build this world, one stroke at a time. And look at the texture, especially in the trees, it’s thick, almost sculptural. The brushwork is so present, so alive. You can practically feel him making each decision. See that flag, how it's not just red and white but this whole mix of pinks and grays, like a memory, or a feeling. Hassam’s work reminds me a bit of Pissarro, that same interest in everyday life. But Hassam's got this American energy, this particular way of seeing the city that feels both grounded and dreamy. Art is always this open conversation, a question more than an answer.