Promenade at Nantasket 1905

Maurice Prendergast made this watercolor, *Promenade at Nantasket*, to capture a crowd at leisure. What’s so great here is how Prendergast uses color and brushstrokes, less to describe than to evoke. It's all about the buzz, the energy of the scene, not the details. Look at the little touches of color, each dab a tiny burst of something. The paint is thin and watery, letting the white of the paper shine through, which makes the whole thing feel light, airy, like a memory of a summer day. Notice that black dog? Prendergast's brushstrokes are quick and loose, and somehow he suggests the animal’s energy. It’s a flurry of dark marks, capturing the dog's playful spirit without getting bogged down in realism. Prendergast's work reminds me a bit of Bonnard, that same joy in capturing everyday life with such a playful touch. Both artists share the idea that painting isn’t about copying reality, but about creating a feeling, an impression.