Shinnecock Hills 1895

William Merritt Chase made this painting, Shinnecock Hills, using oil on canvas. Look closely, and you can see that Chase applied the paint quite thinly in certain areas. The texture of the canvas is apparent, as are the gestural marks of the brush itself. It gives a sense of immediacy, as though we are right there in the field with him. The landscape itself, too, is very suggestive in this regard. This isn’t pristine wilderness, but rather a productive scene, with evidence of grazing and farming all around. It reminds us that art-making is itself a form of labor, not separate from other kinds of work. Chase lived near the Hamptons, during a time when the area was transforming from farmland into a luxurious summer destination. With this in mind, consider the artist, not only depicting this landscape, but also playing a role in the area’s gentrification. We can consider how that process transforms the local economy.