Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist, 1889–1935
Descended in family
Mrs. Chauncy B. Garver, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, until 1968 (grand niece and secretary to artist)
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, until January 1969
Private collection, Michigan, until December 1977
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1980
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Childe Hassam
(American, 1859–1935)
Mrs. Hassam and Her Sister
1889
Oil on canvas
Image: 9 13/16 x 6 1/8 in. (24.9 x 15.6 cm)
Frame: 17 5/8 x 13 7/8 in. (44.8 x 35.2 cm)
Frame: 17 5/8 x 13 7/8 in. (44.8 x 35.2 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1992.40
SignedLower left: Childe Hassam - Paris 1889
InterpretationThe artist’s wife, born Kathleen Maude Doane, and her sister Cora, Mrs. George H. Cotton, are the subjects of Childe Hassam’s image of leisure life in his Parisian studio-residence. Mrs. Hassam is absorbed in reading while her sister, her back to the viewer, plays an upright piano in a bare-floored space cluttered with chairs, paintings, and vases of flowers. To underscore the private informality of the scene, Hassam posed the women in semi-undress, clad in evening undergarments incongruously mixed, in Mrs. Hassam’s case, with long yellow evening gloves and the black shoes and stockings of daytime wear. The casual nature of this image, together with its somewhat tipped-up perspective and broken brushstrokes, document Hassam’s gradual absorption in the late 1880s of the strategies of impressionism, which championed the painting of modern subjects with a rapid, evident technique to capture the transient effects of light and movement. The personal nature of this work may explain why it remained in the artist’s possession throughout his life.
Descended in family
Mrs. Chauncy B. Garver, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, until 1968 (grand niece and secretary to artist)
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, until January 1969
Private collection, Michigan, until December 1977
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1980
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
Exhibition History
Childe Hassam, Guild Hall Museum, East Hampton, New York, 1967, no. 19 (as Mrs. Hassam and Her Sister). [exh. cat.]
Important Recent Acquisitions: Late 19th and early 20th Century American Paintings including Selections from the Collection of Mrs. Joan Patterson, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York (organizer). Venue: Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, 1972. [exh. cat.]
Childe Hassam Impressions, Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee, 1974. [exh. cat.]
Woman, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, February 21–April 22, 1984. [exh. cat.]
American Artists Abroad: The European Influence, Museum of Art, Science, & Industry, Bridgeport, Connecticut, September 28–November 9, 1986. [exh. cat.]
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
An American Revelation: The Daniel J. Terra Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 28–October 1, 1988.
Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915 (Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, June 1–November 1, 1992; April 1–October 31, 1993; April 1–October 30, 1994. [exh. cat.]
American Artists and the Paris Experience, 1880–1910, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 22, 1997–March 8, 1998.
On Process: Studio Themes, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 13–March 4, 2001.
Héroïque et le quotidien: les artistes américains, 1820–1920 (The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 30, 2001. [exh. cat.]
Childe Hassam (1859–1935): Transatlantic Impressions, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 16–April 28, 2002.
Childe Hassam (1859–1935) Retrospective, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York (organizer). Venue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, June 7–September 12, 2004. [exh. cat.]
Portrait of a Lady : peintures et photographies américaines en France, 1870–1915 (Portrait of a Lady: American Paintings and Photographs in France, 1870–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (organizers). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France, April 1–July 14, 2008; Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, September 25, 2008–January 5, 2009. [exh. cat.]
Important Recent Acquisitions: Late 19th and early 20th Century American Paintings including Selections from the Collection of Mrs. Joan Patterson, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York (organizer). Venue: Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, 1972. [exh. cat.]
Childe Hassam Impressions, Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee, 1974. [exh. cat.]
Woman, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, February 21–April 22, 1984. [exh. cat.]
American Artists Abroad: The European Influence, Museum of Art, Science, & Industry, Bridgeport, Connecticut, September 28–November 9, 1986. [exh. cat.]
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
An American Revelation: The Daniel J. Terra Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 28–October 1, 1988.
Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915 (Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, June 1–November 1, 1992; April 1–October 31, 1993; April 1–October 30, 1994. [exh. cat.]
American Artists and the Paris Experience, 1880–1910, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 22, 1997–March 8, 1998.
On Process: Studio Themes, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 13–March 4, 2001.
Héroïque et le quotidien: les artistes américains, 1820–1920 (The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 30, 2001. [exh. cat.]
Childe Hassam (1859–1935): Transatlantic Impressions, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 16–April 28, 2002.
Childe Hassam (1859–1935) Retrospective, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York (organizer). Venue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, June 7–September 12, 2004. [exh. cat.]
Portrait of a Lady : peintures et photographies américaines en France, 1870–1915 (Portrait of a Lady: American Paintings and Photographs in France, 1870–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (organizers). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France, April 1–July 14, 2008; Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, September 25, 2008–January 5, 2009. [exh. cat.]
Childe Hassam: Impressions. (exh. cat., Brooks Memorial Art Gallery). Memphis, Tennessee: Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, 1974. Ill. no. 1.
Czestochowski, Joseph S. Childe Hassam: Impressions. (exh. cat. Brooks Memorial Art Gallery). Memphis, Tennessee: Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, 1984. Cat. no. 1, ill. frontispiece.
Nochlin, Linda. Woman. (exh. cat. Terra Museum of American Art). Evanston, Illinois: Terra Museum of American Art, 1984. Text p. 8; ill. no. 21, p. 22 (color).
Sokol, David M. "The Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois." The Magazine Antiques 126:5 (November 1984): 1156-69. Pl. XIII, p. 1161 (color).
Milman, Evalyn Edwards. American Artists Abroad: The European Influence. (exh. cat. Museum of Art, Science & Industry). Bridgeport, Connecticut: Museum of Art, Science & Industry, 1986. Text pp. 26, 34 (checklist); ill. p. 26 (black and white).
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-126, p. 235 (color).
Gerdts, William H. et al. Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1992. Text pp. 71, 236; pl. 66, p. 240 (color).
Gerdts, William H. et al. Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1992. Text pp. 71, 236; pl. 66, p. 240 (color).
Hiesinger, Ulrich W. Childe Hassam: American Impressionist. Munich, Germany: Prestel, 1994. Text p. 38; fig. 29, p. 38 (color).
Reymond, Nathalie. Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1997. Text p. 40; ill. p. 38 (color).
Adelson, Warren, Jay E. Cantor, and William H. Gerdts. Childe Hassam: Impressionist. New York: Abbeville Press, 1999. Pl. 28, p. 31 (color).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2001. Text p. 23 (checklist).
Cartwright, Derrick R. L'Héroïque et le quotidian: les artistes américains, 1820–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2001. Text p. 23 (checklist).
Weinberg, H. Barbara. Childe Hassam: American Impressionist. (exh. cat., The Metropolitan Museum of Art). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004. Text pp. 70, 239, 308, no. 85, p. 408; fig. 65, p. 69 (color).
Weinberg, H. Barbara. "Childe Hassam, American Impressionist." American Art Review 16:4 (July–August 2004): 118–29. Ill. p. 125 (color).
Vanessa Lecomte, editor. Portrait of a Lady : peinture et photographies américains (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny and Musée des beaux-arts de Bordeaux). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2008. Text (checklist) p. 94.
Czestochowski, Joseph S. Childe Hassam: Impressions. (exh. cat. Brooks Memorial Art Gallery). Memphis, Tennessee: Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, 1984. Cat. no. 1, ill. frontispiece.
Nochlin, Linda. Woman. (exh. cat. Terra Museum of American Art). Evanston, Illinois: Terra Museum of American Art, 1984. Text p. 8; ill. no. 21, p. 22 (color).
Sokol, David M. "The Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois." The Magazine Antiques 126:5 (November 1984): 1156-69. Pl. XIII, p. 1161 (color).
Milman, Evalyn Edwards. American Artists Abroad: The European Influence. (exh. cat. Museum of Art, Science & Industry). Bridgeport, Connecticut: Museum of Art, Science & Industry, 1986. Text pp. 26, 34 (checklist); ill. p. 26 (black and white).
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-126, p. 235 (color).
Gerdts, William H. et al. Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1992. Text pp. 71, 236; pl. 66, p. 240 (color).
Gerdts, William H. et al. Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1992. Text pp. 71, 236; pl. 66, p. 240 (color).
Hiesinger, Ulrich W. Childe Hassam: American Impressionist. Munich, Germany: Prestel, 1994. Text p. 38; fig. 29, p. 38 (color).
Reymond, Nathalie. Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1997. Text p. 40; ill. p. 38 (color).
Adelson, Warren, Jay E. Cantor, and William H. Gerdts. Childe Hassam: Impressionist. New York: Abbeville Press, 1999. Pl. 28, p. 31 (color).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2001. Text p. 23 (checklist).
Cartwright, Derrick R. L'Héroïque et le quotidian: les artistes américains, 1820–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2001. Text p. 23 (checklist).
Weinberg, H. Barbara. Childe Hassam: American Impressionist. (exh. cat., The Metropolitan Museum of Art). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004. Text pp. 70, 239, 308, no. 85, p. 408; fig. 65, p. 69 (color).
Weinberg, H. Barbara. "Childe Hassam, American Impressionist." American Art Review 16:4 (July–August 2004): 118–29. Ill. p. 125 (color).
Vanessa Lecomte, editor. Portrait of a Lady : peinture et photographies américains (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny and Musée des beaux-arts de Bordeaux). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2008. Text (checklist) p. 94.