The Hammock
Datebefore 1915
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsCanvas: 38 5/8 × 51 5/8 inches (98.1 × 131.1 cm)
Framed: 46 1/2 × 59 1/2 × 3 inches (118.1 × 151.1 × 7.6 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase.
Object number1917.3
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextAn American expatriate, Frederick Carl Frieseke trained at the Académie Julian in Paris before settling in Giverny, France, part of the second wave of American impressionism. The Hammock, painted after his move to Giverny in 1906, is an excellent example of Frieseke’s mature style. At this point, Frieseke had completely absorbed the impressionist technique, adopting softer colors and looser brushwork while emphasizing the effects of natural light. In The Hammock, the predominant periwinkle blue color suggests the cool shade of the tree, while the vivid white spots indicate the sunlight filtering through the leaves. Frieseke was fascinated by sunlight, declaring his preference for painting “sunshine, flowers in sunshine; girls in sunshine; the nude in sunshine.”
