Artwork
Old House at East Hampton
Old House at East Hampton is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Childe Hassam. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The bright blues and soft greens feel alive, like a quiet summer day.
This painting shows a blue-shingled house in East Hampton. Pink flowers brighten the green trees. Inside, you can just see a staircase behind the open door.
Hassam painted this in 1916, when he often worked in the Hamptons. He liked how light played on old wood and fresh paint. The bright blues and soft greens feel alive, like a quiet summer day.
If you like this, check out more work by Hassam, Childe.
Overview
Childe Hassam’s 1916 oil on canvas presents a modest residence in East Hampton, its façade covered in blue shingles and framed by verdant trees. A doorway opens onto a view of an interior staircase, while a single tree displays pink blossoms amid the foliage. The composition balances architectural detail with a lively natural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a domestic scene, emphasizing the interaction of built form and surrounding landscape. The contrast between the vivid blue of the house and the softer greens of the trees, highlighted by the pink flowers, suggests a tranquil summer atmosphere and reflects Hassam’s interest in the quiet charm of everyday American life.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting showcases Hassam’s characteristic brushwork, with loose, fluid strokes that convey the texture of the shingles and foliage. The palette relies on bright blues for the upper windows and roof, set against lighter tones, creating a subtle interplay of light and color that animates the scene.
History & Provenance
Created during a period when Hassam frequently painted in the Hamptons, the piece reflects his fascination with the region’s light on weathered wood and fresh paint. The work remains a representative example of his early‑twentieth‑century American Impressionist output.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Childe Hassam was an American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes.
