Washington Monument
Artist
Childe Hassam
(American, 1859 - 1935)
Date1926
MediumWatercolor
Dimensions13 x 9 in.
ClassificationsWatercolor
Credit LineCharles and Elizabeth Buchanan Collection
Object number1989.28
Description"Washington Monument" is painted in a monochromatically, using differentiating tones of blues to reflect the winter season. The season also explains the darker palette of this painting since winter days receive less sunlight than summer days. This seems to be an unusual approach since one might expect watercolor paintings to be full of light and vibrant colors, yet this painting is cool and solemn.The Washington Monument fills nearly the entire painting, and dwarfs the building and trees below it.
One can feel the energy with which this painting was executed and follow the artist's brush strokes. This painting is a good example of Hassam's practice of depicting the modern city softened by snow, rain, brilliant sunlight, or the fall of night.
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