Figures on the Beach 1918

Editor: Maurice Prendergast’s watercolor, "Figures on the Beach," painted in 1918. It has such a light and airy quality, despite depicting so many figures. How should we look at this piece? Curator: Let’s consider the material circumstances of its creation. Watercolors, like Prendergast's, were incredibly portable, and inexpensive to create, making art more accessible, but were seen as less ‘important’ than oils. How do these production values affect how we view the female nude subject? Editor: It does challenge conventional standards of art... Almost as if it invites a less reverent gaze? Curator: Precisely. Consider how this links to its social context. During this period, rapid industrialization brought with it increased leisure time, yet access varied greatly by class and gender. Who exactly gets to experience "leisure" on this beach? Does the accessibility of watercolor change that? Editor: I see, so the *way* the artwork was made, being watercolor on location, affects how it is consumed and how we understand gender roles depicted in it. Does that also mean its "impressionistic" nature makes it more down-to-earth than glamorous? Curator: That's a great point! Its materiality disrupts the idea of idealized, permanent beauty we might expect from paintings depicting nudes, encouraging a focus on the fleeting moments of ordinary life of everyday people. How might the choice of this medium, rather than, say, oil on canvas, influence that reading? Editor: The transparency of watercolor lends itself to capturing movement and spontaneity! Curator: Exactly. Its lightness almost mirrors the ephemerality of a vacation, doesn't it? Do you think we should also read the subject's skin colors in relation to the "easy" use of water and colors of this period? Editor: Yes! Looking at this piece through the lens of materials really shifts my perspective, especially understanding its historical context. I didn’t notice so much on my first observation. Curator: Mine too! Considering art through its materials reminds us that making is as important as viewing.