Artwork
First Leaves—Spring in Washington, St. John's
First Leaves—Spring in Washington, St. John's is an ink print by Childe Hassam. It dates from 1929 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. First Leaves, Spring in Washington, St.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate: [the artist's monogram] April 14th 1929 9AM; lower right in graphite: [the artist's monogram] imp; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: First Leaves St John's Washington 60; lower center edge in graphite by unknown hand: 17 3/8 M567HA [crossed out] 839HA; lower right edge in graphite by unknown hand: FIRST LEAVES, ST. JOHN'S WASHINGTON; upper left verso in graphite by unknown hand: #8
About this work
Childe Hassam’s 1929 etching shows tall trees casting lace-like shadows across a spring forest floor.
Childe Hassam’s 1929 etching shows tall trees casting lace-like shadows across a spring forest floor. The work uses fine black lines, etching combined with drypoint, to build texture and depth. You can almost feel the rough bark and soft moss underfoot.
Hassam often worked outdoors, catching fleeting light and weather. This piece balances detail with quiet mood, no bright colors needed. The drypoint lines scratch deeper to create velvety darks.
Look up the same artist next: Hassam, Childe.
Overview
First Leaves, Spring in Washington, St. John's is an etching by Childe Hassam, created in 1929. The work is executed in black on wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a serene forest scene in spring, with tall trees casting intricate shadows on the ground, evoking the renewal of nature.
Technique & Style
Hassam employed etching and drypoint techniques to achieve a range of textures and depths, using fine black lines to convey the roughness of bark and softness of moss.
History & Provenance
The work dates to 1929, a period when Hassam frequently worked outdoors to capture fleeting effects of light and weather.
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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.
