Frederick Childe Hassam

description

An American artist, illustrator, one of the most prominent representatives of American Impressionism. A member of the group «Ten American artists», which included progressive artists, opposing themselves to the official art and the academic society of American artists. He worked mainly in the technique of watercolor, though also created oil paintings. Childe Hassam was a master of the urban landscape. He left a heritage of a large number of works (more than 3000 paintings) and was very popular during his lifetime. The artist’s works adorn the White House; they are exhibits of leading museums and art galleries of the United States.

Key ideas:

– The work of Childe Hassam is an example of true American Impressionism. In his works, the artist used all the classical techniques of European Impressionists: the abundance of light and air, expressively saturated color gamut, refined strokes and special attention to the endlessly changing state of nature.

– At the same time, the master’s manner has its own features characterising only his works. First of all, it is the themes of works, most of which are urban landscapes. Hassam was not attracted to the idle life of the bourgeoisie and outdoor recreation; he preferred to depict the everyday city with a stream of pedestrians, horse-drawn carts, houses and growing skyscrapers of his native America.

– The artist also paid much attention to the marine theme. His series of paintings created on the island of Scholes attracts with freshness and optimism. They are made in a truly impressionistic spirit, attracting the attention to the light, color and shape and almost ignoring the plot.

– Childe Hassam achieved wide popularity thanks to the the series of works “Flags”. The picturesque works of this cycle have a patriotic sound, inspired by the beginning of the First World War. In the paintings by Hassam, the viewer will not see the soldiers and the battlefield. Flags, which are present in each of the 30 works of the cycle, are only a part of a quite peaceful urban panorama and are in the foreground in most of the paintings. One of the canvases of this series, «A boulevard in the rain», created in 1917, is in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

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1935

The birth of the artist

The artist was born October 7 in the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts. He studied engraving techniques at the Boston School of the Arts; was fond of painting.

Began attending evening classes at the Boston Art Club

Began attending evening classes at the Boston Art Club and Lowell Institute. His first works of art appeared. Hassam painted landscapes of Boston and the surrounding area.

Became a freelance illustrator at a Boston magazine

Became a freelance illustrator at a Boston magazine. At the same time, he created his own art studio, where he worked on illustrations of various works. In the same year, he held his first personal exhibition of watercolor works.

Visited Europe

Visited Europe. He traveled around Italy, France, Holland, England and other countries, getting acquainted with the works of artists from different eras in museums.

Hassam studied at the Julian Academy

After visiting the exhibition of French Impressionists, he went Paris, where he lived for three years. During this period, Hassam studied at the Julian Academy, visited museums and galleries. He was fond of the works of Impressionists.

Took part in the World Exhibition

Took part in the World Exhibition, where he won a bronze medal. In the same year, he went back to the USA, began to work and live in New York.

Entered the American Society of Artists

Entered the American Society of Artists.

Became a member of the "Ten American Artists" group

Became a member of the “Ten American Artists” group, which separated from the official academic Society of American Artists.

Was elected to the National Academy

Was elected to the National Academy. Three years later, the New York Metropolitan Museum bought one of his paintings. At the same time, the artist made several trips to the United States and Europe.