Childe Hassam

Childe Hassam, born on October 17, 1859, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, was an American Impressionist painter renowned for his urban and coastal scenes. Hassam played a crucial role in introducing Impressionism to American art. His early career began as an illustrator and watercolorist, but after studying in Paris from 1886 to 1889, he adopted the Impressionist style characterized by loose brushwork and a focus on light and atmosphere. Hassam is best known for his "Flag" series, depicting American flags in urban settings, inspired by World War I. One of his notable works, "The Avenue in the Rain" (1917), is part of the White House collection. Hassam's paintings have achieved record prices at auction, with "Flags on 57th Street, Winter 1918" selling for $12.3 million at a Sotheby's auction in 2017. He passed away on August 27, 1935, in East Hampton, New York, leaving behind a legacy as one of America's foremost Impressionist painters.