New York, 1931
1931
Medium
etching in black on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 32.7 × 26.35 cm (12 7/8 × 10 3/8 in.) sheet: 42.23 × 29.53 cm (16 5/8 × 11 5/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Gift of Mrs. Childe Hassam)
Accession Number
2015.19.440
Art Historical Context
Childe Hassam's *New York, 1931* captures the bustling energy of the American metropolis during a pivotal moment in history. As a leading figure in American Impressionism, Hassam (1859–1935) was renowned for vibrant depictions of urban scenes and flag motifs, often translating the fleeting light and atmosphere of cities like New York onto canvas and paper. Created at age 72, this etching reflects his lifelong fascination with the city's dynamic architecture and street life, just as the Great Depression began to cast shadows over the skyline. Printed in black ink on laid paper—a traditional su...
About the Artist
Childe Hassam · 1859–1935
Frederick Childe Hassam, born on October 17, 1859, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, to a family of New England descent with ties to Nathaniel Hawthorne through his mother, Rosa Delia Hawthorne, displayed an early aptitude for art. After his father's cutlery business was ruined by the Great Boston Fire of 1872, Hassam apprenticed as a wood engraver under George E. Johnson while taking drawing and wate...