Childe Hassam

The specific date and time of day that Hassam included in his title suggest that he wished to convey how the scene looked in a particular light. He was less specific about the location, which was most likely a view from the west side of the Lieutenant River, looking northeast toward the picturesque village of Old Lyme, Connecticut. Pastel allowed him to capture the fleeing effects of light and subtleties of color spontaneously. The patches of tan paper that peek through the strokes of pastel enhance the sense of warm afternoon sunlight.