For the Little One by William Merritt Chase

"For the Little One" offers an intimate glimpse into the domestic life of American Impressionist William Merritt Chase, portraying his wife, Alice, in the sunlit entry hall of their summer residence in Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, Long Island. Seated gracefully in a high-backed chair, Alice is absorbed in a quiet act of creation—sewing what appears to be a small garment, perhaps a dress or a child’s blouse, intended for one of the couple’s five young children. This tender gesture imbues the work with a deeply personal, maternal resonance, transforming a simple task into a symbol of familial devotion.

The setting is richly appointed with the refined touches characteristic of the Chase household: an ornately patterned rug underfoot, a gilded frame adorning the wall, and the subtle play of decorative textures throughout the entry hall. Yet, despite these artful surroundings, Chase’s true subject seems to be the ephemeral magic of natural light. Soft morning illumination floods the space, filtering through unseen windows and gently caressing the wooden floorboards, the folds of Alice’s dress, and the gleam of her sewing materials. The atmosphere is suffused with warmth and serenity, a hallmark of Chase’s plein-air technique—even when applied to an indoor scene.

With a painterly hand and sensitive eye, Chase transcends mere portraiture to capture a moment of quiet grace, rooted in domestic love and artistic elegance. The painting stands as both a personal homage and a technical tour de force, merging impressionistic light with the intimate rhythms of family life.