Park Scene NeBay 1913

Maurice Prendergast made this painting, Park Scene NeBay, with oil on canvas. There's a real sense of joy in how Prendergast builds up the image, dot by dot, dab by dab. It reminds me of pointillism, but less rigid, more playful. The color palette is muted, but full of life. Look at the lower left area of the painting, the strokes are really visible. You can see how Prendergast layered different colors to create a sense of depth and texture. It gives the impression of dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, each touch, each little block of pigment creating a mosaic. This approach to mark-making and color makes me think of someone like Pierre Bonnard, who also used color to create a sense of atmosphere and emotion, rather than just representing the world literally. You see the same joyful approach. Both artists are great examples of how painting can be a conversation across time.