The Morning News 1886

William Merritt Chase painted *The Morning News* with oil on canvas, an artistic material that was very much the norm at the time. However, what is interesting is the material represented in the work: the newspaper itself. The crisp white of the paper, the way it dominates the composition, its stark contrast to the dark clothing, and the neutral background, all indicate that Chase wanted the viewer to consider the rapidly growing mass media. Newspapers exploded during this period, thanks to industrial printing and distribution. More information was available to more people than ever before. Chase here seems to be asking: what is the significance of this new material, this ephemeral, disposable thing that can so capture our attention? By rendering newsprint so carefully in oil paint, a traditional medium associated with value and permanence, Chase bridges the gap between craft and fine art, inviting us to reflect on the changing landscape of information and society itself.