Chateaubriand s Tomb, St Malo (also known as St. Malo Chateaubriand s Tomb) 1907

Maurice Prendergast made this beach scene, "Chateaubriand’s Tomb, St. Malo," with oil on canvas. Look at the way Prendergast built up the image, almost like mosaic tiles, each stroke considered, each mark its own little world of colour and texture. The paint feels thick, creamy, you can imagine the brush dancing across the surface, leaving these delightful, individual daubs. Notice the way he renders the figures on the beach—they're not detailed, but you get the essence of a crowd enjoying the seaside. Then, there's that tomb sitting there, stoic and calm. It anchors the painting but it almost feels secondary, like a silent witness to the beachgoers. I'm reminded of Vuillard and Bonnard in the way that the composition feels a little tilted, a little off-kilter, as if Prendergast is more interested in the feeling of the place than a strict representation. Art is an ongoing conversation, a game of telephone through time.