Oyster Sloop, Cos Cob

Childe Hassam

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a man in a yellow jacket standing on a small brown rowboat on a wide, pale green river. Behind him is a large mint-green sailboat, its tall mast bare, the sails folded on the deck. Behind that is a coastline covered in tan paths that cut through green grass. Another person stands on the shore, looking towards the boats. A yellow house with a weathered roof and two smaller, red-toned buildings can be seen on the shoreline. Behind them is more blue water, a grassy field, and dark green trees. The sky above is light gray with hints of blue. The brushstrokes of the painting are loose and visible, layering different colors on top of one another. The paint has been applied in thick, short strokes all facing the same direction, giving the impression of motion.