The West Church (also known as Fountain at the West Church, Boston) 1901

Maurice Prendergast made this watercolor, The West Church, and what a great example of that medium. Look at how fluidly he’s moved the paint around, creating a sense of light and air, not unlike some of Bonnard’s paintings. I can imagine Prendergast standing here in Boston, feeling the gentle breeze, watching people stroll by, and trying to capture the whole scene with just a few strokes of his brush. It's such a difficult thing to do, yet he makes it look so easy. I particularly love the way he's rendered the fountain, with these loose, watery marks suggesting movement and sparkle. Think of the conversation this artwork has had with other paintings over the decades. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue, with each artist building on the ideas and techniques of those who came before, and that paintings can be a window onto someone else’s experience.