Frederick Childe Hassam (1859–1935) was an American impressionist artist who painted many pictures – over 2,000 – and deservedly received recognition during his lifetime. Some of his paintings, in particular, “Avenue in the Rain,” were purchased by the US administration to decorate the Oval Office, which is an unconditional sign of recognition of his merits and talent.
Barack Obama in the Oval Office and the painting Avenue in the Rain
Hassam came from a wealthy family of a large cutlery dealer living in Boston. His parents were interested in art, owned a decent collection of paintings, and Frederick began to draw from childhood, although at first no one took his simple watercolors seriously.
And then there was a major fire that burned down his father's store and most of his goods. The family was on the verge of ruin, so seventeen-year-old Hassam decided to abandon his already paid education at Harvard and began working as an accounting clerk. But Hassam quickly got tired of doing only boring accounting, he looked for other ways to earn a living, became interested in creating engravings, fortunately in those years there was a great demand for them, which he cut out on wooden boards. He did not abandon watercolors either, but only at the age of 21 he considered that he had grown up to paint real oil paintings.
Gloucester Harbour
However, there was no good demand for them, so I had to do illustrations for children's stories, while simultaneously honing my painting technique and attending art courses. Soon I organized a personal exhibition of watercolors, which had moderate success, and went to Europe to gain experience and skill.
Aquarium with a goldfish
It turned out that European art has gone a long way forward, Hassam was particularly impressed by the paintings of William Turner, who specialized in painting various elements. This is how paintings should be painted, it is important to capture the moment here and now, to show the marvelous refraction of light rays, the riot of natural and man-made elements, and not to engage only in photographic reflection of reality or writing hundreds of times already captured a hundred times before academically verified subjects. And Hassam decided on the direction in which he should work - Impressionism.
Lady in a flower bed
However, there was also a purely pragmatic calculation - to write a thorough painting in the style of academism, which has already begun to become obsolete, you need to spend a lot of time, while so Impressionist canvas can be sketched in a few hours. Less time - less price and more probability to sell your artwork, and in the aggregate and income should be higher.
Harney Deset
He organized exhibitions, where he sold his paintings, in search of new experiences, traveled extensively, several times came to Europe with his wife, where they rented a luxury apartment, good could afford it, because the scheme of selling paintings worked perfectly. Hassam entered the private Julian Academy in Paris, and after his studies he returned to America as a true master.
Montmartre. Paris
He had already chosen his specialty in painting, the cityscape, and he repeatedly depicted New York and other American cities in his paintings.
View of Broadway and Fifth Avenue
However, he did not dwell only on them - he wrote and nude bathers, for 30 years came to the island of Appledore, located in the state of New Hampshire, where he admired the local amazing landscapes, and at the same time made a pleasant acquaintance with the poet Celia Thaxter, living there.
Bathers
True, it can not be said that the life of the artist was completely prosperous. His paintings are often harshly criticized, calling completely incomprehensible, and many conservative American buyers impressionism Hassam perceived in the bayonet. But helped art dealers, which were many in America, cheaply buying paintings Gassam and subsequently reselling them. However, Hassam did not complain, the work was given to him easily, to write a picture a day he was not a special labor, and the income received was enough to refuse the boring teaching work, which was engaged in many of his colleagues-impressionists.
Bathers and the reflection of clouds
However, the midlife crisis Hassam could not avoid, there was also a period of excessive enthusiasm for alcohol, but at some point he decided to finally quit drinking and his decision held firm. Gradually urban landscapes in his work became less, but amazing rural landscapes and images of beautiful girls more. He remained faithful to his impressionism all his life, not indulging in the avant-garde, quite rightly reasoning that it is best to do what is already well done.
Buy handmade goods or modern art you can on artAlebrio - is an international marketplace for people who want to create, sell, buy and collect unique items and art - buy the best with us artAlebrio.com.
By confirming your order you unconditionally accept these General Conditions of Sale
