William Merritt Chase (American, 1849–1916)
A City Park
INV-2884
William Merritt Chase (American, 1849–1916)c. 1887
Impressionismpaintingamerican arts
Date
c. 1887
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
34.6 × 49.9 cm (13 5/8 × 19 5/8 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Bequest of Dr. John J. Ireland
In the late 1880s, William Merritt Chase painted a series of works focused on the public parks of Brooklyn and Manhattan, including A City Park. Amid rapid growth in New York and other US cities, such green spaces offered respite as well as novel venues for social activity. Inspired by the works of French Impressionism, Chase experimented with dramatic spatial effects, open brushwork, and a high-keyed palette. The composition’s small scale suggests that the artist painted the canvas outdoors, opting for portable materials to work on-site in an urban setting.
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