Photo Credit: David Dietrich
The Old Elm
Hassam’s The Old Elm—a superb example of the influence of French Impressionism on American art—depicts East Hampton, Long Island, known for its large number of stately elms. It was a destination that Hassam and his wife visited periodically from 1898 until 1919, when they made the picturesque village their summer home. Widely exhibited between 1916 and 1917, The Old Elm drew critical attention. The New York Times offered a mixed review, criticizing the “inhuman” limbs of the woodsmen and the “fungous sponginess” of the felled tree, but praising Hassam’s depiction of the “glorious leaves of the forest carpeting the group and roofing the paths.” Recently, scholars have interpreted Hassam’s depictions of trees as evidence of the artist’s interest in history, with trees serving as stalwart yet silent witnesses to the rapidly changing face of the United States in the early 20th century.
Exhibition Title: Asheville Art Museum: An Introduction to the Collection
Label Date: 2021
Type: Catalogue Entry
Written by: Graham Boettcher, PhD
- Intersections in American Art , 9/11/2019 - 00/00/00
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