Artwork
Surf, Isles of Shoals
Surf, Isles of Shoals is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Childe Hassam. It dates from 1913 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The title and visual subject matter emphasize the movement of surf crashing against this specific geographic location.
Childe Hassam's 1913 oil painting Surf, Isles of Shoals depicts the rugged coastline of the Isles of Shoals, an archipelago situated near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. As a work of American Impressionism within the marine art genre, the composition focuses on the natural interaction between the sea and the rocky New England shore. The title and visual subject matter emphasize the movement of surf crashing against this specific geographic location.
While the painting serves as a representation of this coastal environment, the available records describe its literal depiction of the shoreline without detailing further allegorical symbolism or abstract meanings beyond its classification as a marine scene.
Technique & Style
Surf, Isles of Shoals is an oil painting executed on canvas, a format typical of Childe Hassam's mature practice. The work belongs to the marine genre and exemplifies American Impressionism through its loose brushwork and vibrant handling of light. Hassam rendered the rugged New England shoreline near Portsmouth with a palette of blues and greens, emphasizing the texture of sea and sky.
The canvas measures 89.5 cm by 71.8 cm. The composition balances atmospheric effects with a clear compositional structure, reflecting the artist's interest in capturing fleeting coastal conditions.
History & Provenance
Childe Hassam painted Surf, Isles of Shoals in 1913 as an oil on canvas work measuring 89.5 cm by 71.8 cm. The painting belongs to the American Impressionism movement and depicts a rugged New England shoreline near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Its provenance records creation by Hassam in 1913 and its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, where it remains on view. The work's dimensions, medium, and subject reflect the marine genre characteristic of Hassam's later output.
Overview
Surf, Isles of Shoals is an oil painting created in 1913 by American Impressionist Childe Hassam. It captures a coastal scene from the rugged New England region, specifically depicting the shoreline of the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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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.
