On the Rocks, North Shore 1919

Maurice Prendergast conjured up ‘On the Rocks, North Shore’ with watercolor, most likely in his studio after plein-air studies. Look at these swathes of watery blue, violet, and green, all laid down with such spontaneity. I wonder, did he wrestle with this composition? Perhaps he felt a sense of freedom in capturing the fleeting light and lively interactions of figures dotted throughout the landscape. I know the feeling. You are out there and the painting happens fast but then you are like, ugh, what did I do! The paint is thin, almost translucent, allowing the white of the paper to peek through, creating a luminous effect. Notice how the loose brushstrokes suggest movement and atmosphere. The figures are simplified, their forms abstracted into patches of color, yet they remain immediately recognizable as people enjoying a day by the sea. It’s like life – sometimes formless but also perfect. Prendergast, like many of us artists, was in dialogue with the art of his time, absorbing and reinterpreting influences to create something uniquely his own.