The Avenue in the Rain

The painting is one of six works by Hassam in the permanent art collection of the White House in Washington, D.C.

"[2] The Avenue in the Rain dates to February 1917, a time when patriotic fervor was rising and about two months before the United States entered the First World War.

The previous month, Germany had extended its unrestricted submarine warfare to neutral ships, including American vessels.

The Zimmermann Telegram became public knowledge at the end of February 1917, and the country declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917.

In painting this work and others in the series, Hassam may have been influenced by two similar pieces by Claude Monet depicting national celebrations in Paris on June 30, 1878.