Rocks at Appledore 1916

Childe Hassam made this watercolor painting of rocks, probably en plein air, which is a fancy way of saying he painted it outside. You can really see the brushstrokes, the paper shining through here and there. It's like he's trying to catch a feeling more than just copying what he sees. The way he layers the colors, especially in the shadows, makes the rocks feel solid but also kind of dreamy. Look at the little patch of green down in the shadows, like something secret growing in the dark. Hassam reminds me a little of John Singer Sargent, another painter who was great at capturing light and atmosphere with a quick, confident hand. But Hassam's got this extra looseness, this feeling like he's letting the painting happen, not just making it happen. And that's what makes it so cool to look at.