The Olive Grove

Sunlight filters through a grove of ancient olive trees in this warm scene by American painter William Merritt Chase, made in 1895 during his travels in Italy. A grassy path curves gently between the trunks, which twist and bend with age, their silvery leaves catching the light overhead. Chase clearly enjoyed the setting, and his loose, quick brushstrokes give the whole picture a sense of movement, as if a soft breeze is passing through the grass and dappling the ground with shifting shadows.

Chase earned a reputation as both a gifted painter and an influential teacher, helping to bring the bright, airy style of Impressionism to American audiences. He could turn his hand to almost anything, from elegant portraits to busy city parks, but here he keeps his ambitions small. Rather than telling a story, he simply pays attention to the sunshine and the shapes of the old trees. The result is a modest, honest painting that captures the pleasure of an ordinary afternoon outdoors.