The artwork titled “At the Writing Desk” was created by Childe Hassam in 1910. It belongs to the art movement of Impressionism and is categorized under the genre of genre painting, which typically depicts scenes from everyday life.
The artwork presents a contemplative scene of a woman seated at a writing desk, engaged in writing. The setting appears to be an interior room illuminated by natural light filtering through tall, elegant windows adorned with curtains. The scene is characterized by the dynamic brushstrokes and vivid color palette typical of Impressionism, with the light’s interplay notably enhancing the warm yellow tones around the window area. The figure of the woman is somewhat indistinct, almost blending into the surrounding luminosity, which emphasizes the reflective and serene atmosphere of the moment captured. The textures are richly layered, conveying both the intricacies of the interior space and the ephemeral quality of light.