Visual Analysis Of Hassam
As for the time and how viewers experience this painting, Hassam captured this moment brilliantly. The artist captured the moment so well, making the viewer feel as if they themselves are amongst the snowy sidewalks, and darkly clad men, women, and children. Some paintings seem to tell a story over time, but this one in particular is almost perceived as a photograph making the viewer feel inside of the artwork.
Of course, the physicality of this magnificent piece also plays a role in how this painting is perceived by the viewer. Although the scale of a work can vary in reproductions, the proportion always stays the same within it. Here, we see that the proportion is quite balanced, giving the impression of normality or realness. However, the …show more content…
In 2004 when the Metropolitan Museum of Art open a lavish exhibit in honor of his lifetime of work, critics were outraged. Michael Kimmelman said in the New York Times that Hassam was in no way a great artist, and questioned why such a minor historical figure would be given such a grand retrospective. These critics do not fully understand the magnitude of Hassam’s work. He was a pioneer in American Impressionism and paved the way for many other artists after him. Critics called him a “copy-cat” because his work resembled many French Impressionists, but in my opinion he used their work as a guide and then turned into something that was completely his own. Hassam single-handedly created a new artistic style that many after him would follow, and I think that in itself makes an amazing …show more content…
Hassam focused widely on what the American culture was like during his lifetime and did not incorporate other cultures into his paintings. His focus on the American culture could hurt his popularity, because people from different cultures may not really understand or appreciate what his paintings are really about. However, on the other hand, his focus on the American culture might be appreciated because many people and countries long for the “American Dream,” which his work captures that spirit perfectly. Hassam really only targets one audience with most of his work, which makes it difficult for people with different views and background to interpret his work
Of course, the physicality of this magnificent piece also plays a role in how this painting is perceived by the viewer. Although the scale of a work can vary in reproductions, the proportion always stays the same within it. Here, we see that the proportion is quite balanced, giving the impression of normality or realness. However, the …show more content…
In 2004 when the Metropolitan Museum of Art open a lavish exhibit in honor of his lifetime of work, critics were outraged. Michael Kimmelman said in the New York Times that Hassam was in no way a great artist, and questioned why such a minor historical figure would be given such a grand retrospective. These critics do not fully understand the magnitude of Hassam’s work. He was a pioneer in American Impressionism and paved the way for many other artists after him. Critics called him a “copy-cat” because his work resembled many French Impressionists, but in my opinion he used their work as a guide and then turned into something that was completely his own. Hassam single-handedly created a new artistic style that many after him would follow, and I think that in itself makes an amazing …show more content…
Hassam focused widely on what the American culture was like during his lifetime and did not incorporate other cultures into his paintings. His focus on the American culture could hurt his popularity, because people from different cultures may not really understand or appreciate what his paintings are really about. However, on the other hand, his focus on the American culture might be appreciated because many people and countries long for the “American Dream,” which his work captures that spirit perfectly. Hassam really only targets one audience with most of his work, which makes it difficult for people with different views and background to interpret his work