AN APPRECIATION: Childe Hassam Childe Hassam, Self-portrait
Frederick Childe Hassam was an American artist active at the turn of the 20th century. Largely self-taught, was influenced by the English artists JMW Turner and John Constable but following a journey to Paris in the 1880s, he became an 'extreme Impressionist.” A leader of the American Impressionist movement, Hassam overcame the critics and helped to establish Impressionism in the United States.
Hassam was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts on October 17, 1859. Although contemporaries often mistakenly thought that he must have a Middle Eastern background, he was actually from an old New England family whose roots went back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The name Hassam is actually a corruption of the name Horsham. Known as Childe, another family name, the boy showed an early interest in art. His parents did not take much notice of this interest but he was encouraged by his aunt. Due to a fire that destroyed the family business, Childe left school in 1872 in order to work in the accounting department of a local business. He only lasted a couple of weeks in this job as he spent all of his time drawing. In order to put his artistic talent to work, Hassam became an apprentice to a wood engraver. He was soon a skilled draughtsman. Hassam also became accomplished first as a watercolorist and subsequently with oil paints. By 1881, he had progressed to the point where he was able to open his own studio as a freelance draughtsman and illustrator. The next year, he had his first solo exhibition at a gallery in Boston. Then, he traveled to Europe with friends in order to see the works of the Old Masters. The journey took the group to Great Britain, Holland, Spain and Italy. When he returned to Boston, Hassam showed the watercolors that he had made during the journey at another solo exhibition. In 1884, he married Kathleen Maude Doane, a family friend, who Hassam had courted for awhile. It was a successful marriage with Kathleen managing the home so that Childe could concentrate on art. The family had a good income, particularly from Childe's watercolors. From the couple's Boston apartment, Childe would venture out and paint scenes of the city. Such scenes were to became a major focus of his art. In 1886, the couple embarked for a three-year stay in Paris. The goal was for Childe to study at the prestigious Academie Julien. Childe did study there but for only a short time, becoming bored with the the routine of academic study. Much more to his interest was the avant garde work of the Impressionists whose work was beginning to be accepted in Paris. Childe did not meet any of the Impressionists but did rent a studio once used by Pierre Auguste Renoir. In that studio he found some sketches by Renoir that made Hassam think that the two artists were on the same wavelength. During his Paris sojourn, Hassam exhibited works at the Salons of 1887 and 1888 as well as the Universal Exposition of 1889 where he won a bronze medal. When they returned home in 1889, the couple settled in New York City. Now a confirmed disciple of the Impressionists, Childe's palette was brighter and his works full of light. With his friends J. Alden Weir and John Twacksman visited the galleries and collections that were showing works by Renoir, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and other Impressionists. Childe also applied the lessons that he had learned from the Impressionists to his paintings of city scenes. Critics at first were surprised by Hassam's new style but eventually most came to praise or at least, accept it. Although both artists drew their city scenes from first hand observation, exploring the streets of New York, Hassam's scenes differ from those of Reginald Marsh. Hassam captured a genteel New York whereas Marsh would find his subjects in the harshness of Depression era New York. This reflects a difference in focus as well as the changing times. In the summers, the Hassams would travel through New England and the coastlines, gardens and the New England way of life lent themselves to Hassam's Impressionistic style and became frequent subjects. The Hassams made another trip to Europe in 1896, visiting Italy, France and England. Hassam was by now a leader of the American Impressionism movement and a forceful advocate of the style. Even though Impressionism became accepted in America - - perhaps more quickly than in France - - it was something of a struggle to have it taken seriously. For example, in 1897, a debate over Impressionism caused Hassam and nine other artsists to leave the Society of American Artists and found their own group known as “The Ten.” As the new century began, the struggle appeared to be won. Hassam was now selling works to major museums. His works commanded very good prices. He was elected as an Academician of the National Academy of Design in 1906. Still, by the time of the 1913 Armory Show, Impressionism was regarded as being traditional and conservative. Post-Impressionism, Fauvism and Cubism were now the avant garde. Hassam protested against those movements but nonetheless, agreed to exhibit several of his Impressionistic works at the Armory Show. Hassam's greatest artistic triumph, however, was still to come. As the United States moved toward involvement in World War I, parades and displays of American flags became frequent in New York City. Hassam depicted such scenes in a number of colorful, Impressionistic paintings of the City's major avenues lined with flags. Nearly 30 paintings were included in the Flag Series. They continue to resonate as seen by the fact that President Barrack Obama had one of the Flag series paintings hung in the Oval Office. Around this time, Hassam became interested in printmaking. Graphic work increasingly became the focus of his art through the rest of his career. In the 1919, the Hassams purchased a house in East Hampton, New York and the South Fork of Long Island became their summer base. Hassam died there in 1935. |
Hassam is perhaps best known for his Flag series - - nearly 30 paintings depicting the display of flags in support of the Allies in World War I. Above: "Allies Day."
Below: During a trip to France in 1910, Hassam painted a scene of a Parisian street during the Bastille Day celebrations, foreshadowing the later Flag series. 
A frequent subject of Hassam's work was scenes he encountered while exploring New York City. Above: "Late Afternoon, Winter, New York."
In the summers, Hassam would travel, often to New England, where he would paint gardens, the coast, and late 19th century New England life. One of his favorite places was Shoal Island off the New England coast. Celia Thaxter hosted a colonies of intellectuals who would gather at her father's Appledore Hotel. Above: "Celia Thaxter In Her Garden."
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Artist appreciation - Childe Hassam