Art Institute of Chicago

New England Headlands

Childe Hassam (American, 1859–1935)

Date

1899

Medium

Oil on canvas

Culture

Gloucester

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This panoramic landscape depicts one of Childe Hassam’s favorite destinations: Gloucester, Massachusetts. During the summer months Gloucester was home to many artists, who, like Hassam, chose to emphasize its picturesque aspects, such as its quaint buildings and sailing vessels, rather than its fish-processing plants. The composition exhibits Hassam’s broken brushwork and his use of bare canvas, particularly in the foreground. Bright, saturated blues and crisp whites add to the maritime tenor of the work, while the square canvas highlights its architectural quality and harmoniously organized space.

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