19C Women in Gardens - American

Frederick Childe Hassam (1859-1935). After Breakfast. 1887

Biography of Frederick Childe Hassam (1859-1935)

Frederick Childe Hassam, born on October 17, 1859, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, became one of America’s foremost Impressionist painters. Hassam began his career as a draftsman & illustrator, but he soon transitioned to painting, studying at the Boston Art Club & then at the Académie Julian in Paris. His time in France from 1886 to 1889 deeply influenced his style, which merged American realism with French Impressionism.

Hassam returned to the United States & settled in New York City, where he became a leading figure in the American Impressionist movement. He co-founded the group known as "The Ten American Painters" in 1898, advocating for Impressionism in the U.S. His works often depicted urban scenes, landscapes, & coastal views, characterized by their vibrant light, color, & brushwork.

Hassam gained significant recognition for his "Flag Series," painted during World War I, which symbolized American patriotism. Over his career, he produced over 3,000 works, including oil paintings, watercolors, & prints. He died on August 27, 1935, in East Hampton, New York, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence American art.

Bibliography

Books:

Broun, Elizabeth. Childe Hassam: Impressionist. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994.

Cortissoz, Royal. Childe Hassam. Scribner’s Sons, 1913.

Gerdts, William H. Childe Hassam: Impressionist of the Cities. Abbeville Press, 1994.

Pisano, Ronald G. The Complete Catalogue of Known & Documented Work by Frederick Childe Hassam (1859-1935). New York: American Art Association, 1992.

Tarbell, Roberta K. Childe Hassam's New York. Museum of the City of New York, 1993.

Weinberg, H. Barbara. Childe Hassam: American Impressionist. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004.

Articles:

Adelson, Warren. "Hassam & the Flag Paintings of World War I." The American Art Journal, vol. 14, no. 2, 1982, pp. 4-30.

Bauer, Peter. "Hassam’s Vision of America: The Artist’s Role in Shaping National Identity." American Art, vol. 25, no. 3, 2011, pp. 32-50.

Cikovsky, Nicolai Jr. "Childe Hassam’s Urban Modernity." Art in America, vol. 92, no. 5, 2004, pp. 85-91.

Howat, John K. "The American Flag in Childe Hassam’s Work: Symbolism & Patriotism." American Art Review, vol. 5, no. 3, 1993, pp. 68-85.

Taylor, Alex. "Monet, Hassam, and the Aesthetics of American Impressionism." The Art Bulletin, vol. 94, no. 4, 2012, pp. 573-595.

Wilkin, Karen. "Childe Hassam & the American Impressionists." The Burlington Magazine, vol. 128, no. 1000, 1986, pp. 761-764.

Zilczer, Judith. "Childe Hassam: An American Impressionist." Archives of American Art Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, 1984, pp. 6-23.