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Lot Essay
Throughout the history of American art, Childe Hassam has maintained his undisputed reputation as an ingenious American Impressionist artist. His works have ranged from the celebrated landscapes of Appledore to depictions of New York and Parisian bourgeoisie life. Outside the Café on the Grand Boulevard is an excellent example of Hassam's fascination with Parisian motifs. Not only is this painting symbolic of the Impressionist movement, but it also symbolizes a pastime that he acquired while studying at the Académie Julian in Paris. "Hassam's greatest amusement was to wander about the streets of Paris in search of motifs for his paintings." (U.W. Heisinger, Childe Hassam, New York, 1994, p.42)
Although this painting was completed about 10 years after he had studied at the Académie Julian, he used the same methods of wandering the streets in search of potential subject matters when he decided to revisit France in 1896. By using quick brushstrokes and subtle hints of charcoal, Hassam captures a fleeting moment at a street café. "Since he was adamant about finishing as much work as possible, he adjusted his method to a hurried schedule, laying down the pigment in an extremely rapid summary of strokes. Hence, the painted surfaces are often quite thin, but, at their best, possess an engaging sense of impulsiveness and striking immediacy of effect." (Childe Hassam, New York, 1994, p.109) Not only does Outside the Grand Café on the Grand Boulevard portray all of these qualities, but it strongly represents the immense talent and cultural awareness of one of the greatest American Impressionist artists of the time.
This work will be included in Stuart P. Feld's and Kathleen M. Burnside's forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist's work.
Although this painting was completed about 10 years after he had studied at the Académie Julian, he used the same methods of wandering the streets in search of potential subject matters when he decided to revisit France in 1896. By using quick brushstrokes and subtle hints of charcoal, Hassam captures a fleeting moment at a street café. "Since he was adamant about finishing as much work as possible, he adjusted his method to a hurried schedule, laying down the pigment in an extremely rapid summary of strokes. Hence, the painted surfaces are often quite thin, but, at their best, possess an engaging sense of impulsiveness and striking immediacy of effect." (Childe Hassam, New York, 1994, p.109) Not only does Outside the Grand Café on the Grand Boulevard portray all of these qualities, but it strongly represents the immense talent and cultural awareness of one of the greatest American Impressionist artists of the time.
This work will be included in Stuart P. Feld's and Kathleen M. Burnside's forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist's work.