Poppies, Isles of Shoals

Clusters of red and white poppies spread across a rocky foreground, with pale blue water stretching behind them toward low rocky islands. A small sailboat rests on the calm sea beneath a soft, hazy sky. This coastal scene was painted in 1891 in oil by Childe Hassam, and it is held today at the National Gallery of Art, having come to the museum as a gift from Margaret and Raymond Horowitz. Hassam, who lived from 1859 to 1935, worked within the Impressionist movement, also known for his painting Laurel in the Ledges. One detail worth noticing is how the bright red and white blossoms stand out sharply against the muted tones of the water and sky, drawing the eye toward the distant sailboat.