Street Scene, La Ronda, Spain

Childe Hassam painted Street Scene, La Ronda, Spain while on a painting trip to Europe in 1910. During the summer months of July and August Hassam and his wife visited Paris, Amsterdam, The Hague and Antwerp, and later in the fall they travelled south through France, finally arriving in Spain. According to the artist, Spain had been the primary destination for the trip, and for a month or more Hassam painted views in Seville, Madrid, Toledo, Cordova and La Ronda, where he completed Street Scene, La Ronda, Spain.

Whether travelling abroad or living at home in New York, the Hassams maintained high standards for their living and working arrangements. Just prior to their departure for Europe in 1910, Hassam and his wife moved into the plush studio cooperative apartments at 130 West 57th Street, and while on his travels in Europe Hassam enjoyed similar finely appointed accomodations.

Street Scene, La Ronda, Spain exhibits Hassam's fascination with bright, clear light that characterizes the finest American Impressionist paintings. To evoke the brilliance of the Mediterranean light, Hassam has employed striking colors throughout the composition, painting the sky in bold blues and placing lively touches of pink, beige, orange and yellow in the building facades, windows and roof tiles.

This painting will be included in Stuart P. Feld's and Kathleen M. Burnside's forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist's work.