Artwork
Nude Seated
Nude Seated is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Childe Hassam. It dates from 1912 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper right: Childe Hassam / 1912
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait genre piece, the painting focuses on the depiction of the individual subject rather than a broader narrative or complex allegorical scene.
The work Nude Seated by Childe Hassam, created in 1912, is classified as a portrait featuring a nude female figure. As a portrait genre piece, the painting focuses on the depiction of the individual subject rather than a broader narrative or complex allegorical scene. The title itself indicates the primary action and posture of the sitter, who is shown in a seated position.
While the specific identity of the model is not detailed in the provided records, the work serves as a study of the human form within the context of early 20th-century American portraiture.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1912, this work is an oil painting on canvas. The composition measures 61 cm in height and 55.9 cm in width. Classified as a portrait, the piece exemplifies the artist's approach to the genre during this period through the application of oil paint to a woven fabric support.
History & Provenance
The oil-on-canvas painting Nude Seated was executed by Childe Hassam in 1912, as indicated by the work’s date and its inception date of 1 January 1912. The earliest known provenance locates it at Our Lady of Elms, where it was likely a gift from the artist before entering the stock of M. Knoedler & Co. in New York. In 1926 the painting was sold to Edward Ward McMahon of Brooklyn, and it appeared in his 1929 American Art Association sale (lot 88).
Subsequently it entered the collection of Chester Dale, who bequeathed it to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it has resided since 1963.
Nude Seated is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection in 1963 as part of the bequest of Chester Dale (1883–1962) of New York. The painting's provenance traces back through Edward Ward McMahon of Brooklyn, who acquired it in 1926 from M. Knoedler & Co. in New York; McMahon's consignment of the work at the American Art Association in New York in 1929 (lot 88) preceded its acquisition by Dale. Earlier in its history, the canvas is recorded at Our Lady of Elms, likely received as a gift from the artist, before passing through Knoedler.
No exhibition history beyond the documented provenance transactions is recorded in the available sources. supplies the full chain of ownership and the 1963 bequest to the NGA. confirms the current holding institution and collection.
Overview
Childe Hassam, a prominent American Impressionist, created Nude Seated in 1912 using oil on canvas. This painting exemplifies his contribution to introducing Impressionist principles to American art. It depicts a female figure in a private interior, rendered with an attention to the interplay of light and form, characteristic of the movement. Hassam was a prolific artist, producing over 3,000 works throughout his career.
Context
Childe Hassam was a significant figure in early 20th-century American art, instrumental in popularizing Impressionism in the United States. Alongside contemporaries like Mary Cassatt, he helped shape the American interpretation of the European movement. While often recognized for his urban and coastal landscapes, works such as Nude Seated illustrate his exploration of the human figure within private spaces, contributing to his diverse body of work.
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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.
