Shinnecock Hills

Sandy soil stretches out across the eastern tip of Long Island in this calm view of the Shinnecock Hills. William Merritt Chase spent his summers here in the 1890s, running an open-air art school where he taught students to paint directly from what they saw in front of them. Low scrubby grasses, patches of green brush, and a wide pale sky were exactly the kind of ordinary sights he loved. A thin path winds toward the low hills in the distance, and a single puffy cloud floats overhead, hinting at the salty ocean air nearby.

Chase was among the most respected American Impressionists, and his approach shows in every quick, loose stroke here. He was not interested in fussing over small details or in painting anything dramatic. No mountains or storms fill this scene, just a plain patch of coastal land soaked in warm summer light. The honesty is what gives the painting its charm. Chase clearly cared for this humble place, and he let its quiet beauty speak for itself.