April Showers, Champs Elysees Paris (1888) by Childe Hassam

April Showers, Champs Elysees Paris - Childe Hassam - 1888

Artwork Information

TitleApril Showers, Champs Elysees Paris
ArtistChilde Hassam
Date1888
Art MovementImpressionism

About April Showers, Champs Elysees Paris

“April Showers, Champs Elysees Paris” is an impressionist artwork created by artist Childe Hassam in 1888. This genre painting captures a moment on the famous Parisian street, the Champs Elysées, during a period of wet weather, characteristic of the spring month of April.

The painting presents a typical Parisian scene set under overcast skies. The soft, muted tones of the artwork suggest the damp atmosphere of a rainy day. In the foreground, a solitary figure holding what appears to be a book or a pamphlet stands under the shelter of a tree. The person’s attire, featuring a hat adorned with a red accessory, reflects the fashion of the late 19th century.

Beyond the figure, we see a street busy with the bustle of city life. Horse-drawn carriages, presumably omni-buses due to their enclosed structure and rooftop passengers, are moving along the wet street, which reflects the surrounding hues due to the rain. The horses pulling the carriages appear calm and patient in the congested traffic. The detailed rendering of the carriages and the horses contrasts with the more loosely painted background, where the silhouettes of trees and buildings are discernable but not sharply defined, which is typical of the impressionist style.

The umbrellas of the passengers on top of the bus are notable, providing a visual emphasis on the rainy conditions. Hassam’s use of light and shadow, as well as the impressionist brushstrokes, capture the reflective quality of the wet pavements and the moisture in the air. This artwork exemplifies the impressionist movement’s focus on depicting modern life, the changing qualities of light, and the effects of the atmosphere on the scene being painted.

Other Artwork from Childe Hassam

More Impressionism Artwork

Scroll to Top