The Red Cape 1894

Editor: So here we have "The Red Cape," created around 1894 by Maurice Prendergast, using watercolor and colored pencil – a mixed-media piece, really. What strikes me is the quick, almost rushed application of the paint. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The process is precisely what captures my attention. Notice how Prendergast embraces the inherent qualities of watercolor. It's not about illusionism; it’s about the flow and pooling of the pigment. He acknowledges and celebrates the materials themselves, the very means of production. Editor: So it’s not about accurately depicting a person, but something else? Curator: Exactly! Think about the social context. Impressionism was challenging the established academic painting style that prioritised meticulous detail and illusionistic space. Prendergast’s loose application of watercolor acts as a direct rejection of this established form, embracing the physical act of painting and all that this process means to him. How does his rendering of the 'costume' fit into this rejection of traditional styles? Editor: I see, by using these unconventional materials he’s showing how a cape and dress can be depicted outside the traditional views. Almost celebrating their physical appearance in real life rather than idealized versions. Curator: Precisely! It’s less about depicting a fashionable lady and more about exploring the capabilities of the media he uses. It democratizes the act of image making. We learn a lot about what can be valued outside conventional circles through a material reading. Editor: This really highlights how the choice of material and technique directly informs the meaning, disrupting conventional ideas. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! Examining the 'how' often reveals more than the 'what'. Looking closely at materiality broadens our understanding and helps break down established values.