Childe Hassam: At Dusk: Boston Common at Twilight

by Erica Hirshler

In this vivid account of one of Boston's best-loved paintings, leading American art specialist Erica E. Hirshler illuminates the context of Childe Hassam's 1880s city scene. With its rosy rust tones, intimate familial vignette and quiet expanse of snow-laden park, today "At Dusk (Boston Common at Twilight)" seems to encourage reflection and represent a decidedly old-fashioned city. Yet Hirshler reveals the ways in which the painting visually signaled the emerging modern city, from subtleties about women's place in the urban landscape to the uproarious clang of the streetcars that would have been heard on the busiest block in Boston. Enriched with reproductions of related paintings and archival illustrations, this evocative volume explores the countered conventions and bulldozed buildings behind the canvas's creation. Carefully researched and elegantly presented, the latest addition to the MFA Spotlight series will delight Hassam fans and history buffs alike.

Genres: Art, History

76 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2015

Reviews

[Bryan Vohsing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw Childe Hassam’s painting At Dusk at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and immediately fell in love and needed to learn more. I took an art history class in college my senior year because I thought it’d be an easy elective. It was, but I took a lot from the class most notably a new love for art museums after being forced to visit one for a class assignment. I remember my professor told us to, “walk around the museum until you find something that stands out; something that demands your attention.” Well, everything at art museums beg for your attention - that’s kind of the point. But it wasn’t until I saw At Dusk that I felt like a work demanded my attention. It reminded me of the careless joy of big band musicians like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra who talk about big cities as if they’re the only place you should ever want to be.

This book provided great context to the painting, the time period, and the history of Boston and impressionist artists. Good stuff if you’re into this kind of thing.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childe Hassam's painting At Dusk (Boston Common at Twilight) is one of my favorites from the MFA Boston collection, and I picked up this slim little book from their incredible gift shop in my last few weeks of living in Boston as a token to remember my years of living in the city (and visiting At Dusk at the MFA) by. I had been saving it to read on a chilly winter's day, and decided that today would be the day (alas, it doesn't snow here in Los Angeles, so "chilly" means settling for 52 degrees - but I digress).

This is a lovely little book, with gorgeous full-color illustrations, beautiful close-ups of At Dusk, and lots of little fun facts about Boston in the 1880s. I only wish I had a trip to Boston scheduled soon so that I can re-visit At Dusk to better appreciate this work of art with all the new information I have about it.

[Stefani Akins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I did not have the pleasure to see the actual painting on display, I picked this little book up on a whim. Not only was I not disappointed, I was in fact delighted by its well written and presented content. Skilfully interwoven bits of the artist's biography, his body of work in context with art movements of the time, and the historical setting in Boston at the birth of this painting make for interesting and engaging reading. I have read more voluminous books with less satisfaction. The only downside is a technical one: the paper is semi-glossy and therefore somewhat difficult to read in lamplight. Still, overall I highly recommend Ms Hirshler's book!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of this painting (and I know there are many) will enjoy this slender but detailed examination of Hassan’s work. Hirshler writes engagingly of the different elements of the painting which one wouldn’t necessarily know about when viewing it - the changes in architecture, modern inventions like electric light, social advances for women, fashion, etc.

I also greatly enjoyed Hirshler’s book Sargent’s Daughters & would recommend that as well.

[narwhal]

Lovely brief foray into a painting that took my breath away. The suffused pink glow of dawn, the affinity toward architecture and the city, *modernity*, depicting the now, and the mobility of women around Boston. As with any artist stories, made me think about the journey of a work of art — the way a now-famous work used to be hidden and disregarded. Also interesting concept to focus so deeply on a single painting.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written book about a lovely painting. Hassam's portrait of Boston Common at twilight in the 1880s, once dismissed by critics, continues to delight those who view it. Hirschler dissects the painting almost inch by inch, wrapping together urban history, artistic technique, and biographical details of the artist. Who said art history is dull?