Red Cross Nurse

Childe Hassam's pen-and-ink sketch depicts a nurse in World War I uniform seated at a desk, her gaze directed outward. The spare, economical linework—characteristic of newspaper illustration—captures both the figure's dignity and the austere setting of wartime service. Behind her, a crucifix and religious imagery suggest the spiritual dimension of nursing care during the war. Hassam, primarily known for his landscapes and impressionist paintings, contributed illustrations to periodicals throughout his career, demonstrating the versatility expected of accomplished American artists in the early twentieth century.