Artwork
Peach Blossoms—Villiers-le-Bel
Peach Blossoms—Villiers-le-Bel is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Childe Hassam. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a blossoming peach tree set in the suburban town of Villiers-le-Bel, a scene that merges a specific geographic reference with a universal study of light and foliage. By rendering the delicate pink flowers against a luminous sky, Hassam captures the transient quality of spring, a motif that resonates with the Impressionist concern for momentary visual effects. The work's subject therefore embodies themes of renewal and the fleeting nature of natural beauty, while its execution in oil on canvas exemplifies the technical ambitions of late-19th-century American Impressionism.
Technique & Style
The relatively modest dimensions and oil-on-canvas support are consistent with the plein-air and studio practice typical of Hassam's 1894 production in France.
Peach Blossoms, Villiers-le-Bel is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 54.6 by 46 centimeters. The work is classified as a painting and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its formal qualities align with the American Impressionist movement, a stylistic affiliation reflected in the artist's handling of the subject of blossoming trees within a landscape.
The relatively modest dimensions and oil-on-canvas support are consistent with the plein-air and studio practice typical of Hassam's 1894 production in France.
History & Provenance
Childe Hassam's 1894 painting Peach Blossoms, Villiers-le-Bel is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records, the museum is confirmed as the work's current location. There is no documented exhibition history supported by the provided sources.
Overview
Childe Hassam's oil painting, "Peach Blossoms, Villiers-le-Bel," created in 1894, is a notable example of American Impressionism. This work, now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, portrays a blossoming tree within a sunlit landscape. It reflects Hassam's consistent interest in capturing the nuanced effects of light and atmosphere in natural settings, a central tenet of the Impressionist movement.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Childe Hassam (; October 17, 1859 – August 27, 1935) was an American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes.
