Central Park 1910

Maurice Prendergast captured this scene of Central Park in paint, I wonder how long he spent staring at this exact spot and moment. The canvas seems to shimmer with the touches of green, brown, and pops of saturated color that conjure the feeling of a day in the park. Imagine Prendergast standing here, squinting, trying to translate the dappled light through the leaves onto the canvas. The paint is applied in these short, flickering strokes, almost like he’s trying to catch the fleeting movement of the figures and horses. I love how the dabs of color create a sense of depth. The painting feels like a mosaic of sensations. It makes me think about how artists, through their own observations and processes, keep the act of seeing alive. Prendergast has certainly inspired me to look more closely.