- Washington Arch, Spring (Hassam, 1890)
- Washington Arch, September 2009
The two images are of Washington Arch in Washington Square Park. Both were taken along Fifth Avenue at one of the entrances to the park. The perspectives are slightly varied; Hassam was probably standing further away and had a more encompassing view. The times of the images are different as well. Hassam did this painting during spring, while I photographed it in September. It is seen in the differences of the trees; they are just in bloom in the spring, therefore they are more bare, while the photograph has a larger tree, as well as some grass behind the fence. However, there are similarities as well, such as the colors (greens, blues, greys), people (showing the bustling city streets) and the same architecture (the arch, the street, the landscape). 
Hassam used some of the artistic freedom offered while painting; the arch and overall painting seems to be stretched vertically, something very difficult to replicate. The perspective in the Hassam painting also varies from my photograph. The vanishing point in the painting is closer to the edge of the frame, while my photograph has a vanishing point towards the middle of the frame.
I believe the differences do not obscure the ability to recognize this historical place. The arch looks exactly the same, even if the streets, people and flora do not.
Alina,
Your photograph conveys the feeling of the painting, with a tree obscuring the arch’s view. This was not a “find the differences” assignment, I wanted you to figure what were the visual tools used. Do the differences obscure our ability to identify a historical place in the city…?