Beach Scene with Boats 1915

Maurice Prendergast made this watercolor and graphite Beach Scene with Boats. Prendergast was deeply interested in the relationship between material and experience, especially how the application of pigment could evoke the feeling of a place. Look closely, and you'll see how he used thin washes of color, almost stained into the paper, to capture the light and atmosphere of the beach. The visible brushstrokes and loose application of paint contribute to the overall impression of spontaneity, suggesting that the work was made quickly, en plein air. However, it is clear from the number of details, and careful composition, that the image was thoroughly considered. Ultimately, the image speaks to the democratization of leisure during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As time off became increasingly available to middle-class people, Prendergast made beach scenes like this one, marking an important chapter in the history of modern social life.