Dimensions: 36.83 x 50.8 cm
Copyright: Public domain
Maurice Prendergast made this ‘Scene of Venice’ with watercolour, and it's all about how he puts the colours down – loose, vibrant, and kind of playful. It's less about getting Venice exactly right and more about getting the feeling of the place. The materiality here is everything; the way the watercolour allows for these transparent washes, creating depth without getting heavy. Look at how he renders the water; it's not just blue, it's a mix of blues, greens, and even a bit of red. It gives the canal this shimmering, alive quality. And then there are these quick, broken marks that suggest movement – the people, the boats, even the buildings seem to vibrate. Prendergast reminds me a bit of Bonnard, both using colour to evoke emotion, and it's like they’re having a conversation across time about what painting can do. The real magic is how it leaves space for us to fill in the blanks, to bring our own Venice to the scene.
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