Moonlight, New England Coast (Primary Title)
Childe Hassam, American, 1859 - 1935 (Artist)
Dark, horizontal bands of irregular shape creep across this nocturnal image of the Isles of Shoals, off the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, bisecting the scene to articulate the region between water and sky. The simplicity of the composition is matched by a minimal palette; the only relief to the high-keyed blue color is the golden sphere that breaks through the night, casting its trailing image on the water below. The effect is one of serene isolation. Moonlight, New England Coast illustrates the mature style developed by Childe Hassam later in his career. Confronted with the harsh realities of urban life, Hassam turned his attention to landscape, adopting a brighter palette and more superficial forms. By that time, impressionism had become mainstream, a counterpoint to cutting-edge trends toward cubism and surrealism.
"Capturing Beauty: American Impressionist & Realist Paintings from the McGlothlin Collection," Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (19 May-18 September, 2005).
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