William Merritt Chase (1849–1916) – A Master of Light and Impression William Merritt Chase, born in 1849 in Indiana, was a pivotal figure in the late 19th and early 20th-century American art scene. His career spanned over six decades, marked by an eclectic approach to subject matter and a profound understanding of light and color—qualities that cemented his place as one of America’s leading Impressionist painters. While often categori…