clearing sunset (corner of berkeley street and columbus avenue) 1890 Childe Frederick Hassam (1859-1935)

The canvas presents a bustling urban scene bathed in the warm hues of a setting sun. Here we observe a street corner dominated by horse-drawn carriages and figures navigating a wet pavement. The composition is structured around diagonal lines created by the road and the receding perspective, drawing the viewers eye towards the distant cityscape.
The artist employed an impressionistic technique, characterized by loose brushstrokes and a focus on capturing fleeting light effects. The sky is rendered in broad strokes of orange, yellow, and pale blue, suggesting a vibrant sunset that casts a golden glow upon the buildings and street below. This luminosity contrasts with the darker tones used to depict the carriages and figures, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
The wet pavement reflects the light and colors above, adding another layer of visual complexity. The reflections distort the forms of the carriages and figures, blurring the boundaries between reality and perception. Steam or vapor rises from the road surface, likely due to the cold air meeting the warmth of the horses’ exertion, further softening the scene and contributing to a hazy, dreamlike quality.
In the background, a prominent building with a distinctive tower punctuates the skyline. Its architectural details are somewhat obscured by distance and atmospheric perspective, yet it serves as an anchor point within the composition, grounding the scene in a specific location.
The figures populating the street appear hurried and preoccupied, their faces largely indistinct. They seem to be caught up in the rhythm of urban life, oblivious to the beauty of the sunset. This suggests a subtext concerning the alienation and anonymity that can accompany modern city living. The carriages themselves symbolize an era undergoing rapid technological change; they represent a transitional period between older modes of transportation and the impending rise of automobiles.
The overall effect is one of transient beauty and quiet melancholy, capturing a moment in time when the old world was giving way to the new. The painting evokes a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era while simultaneously acknowledging the relentless march of progress.