Hillside Village 1913

Maurice Prendergast made this watercolour, Hillside Village, sometime in his career. Watercolour is an interesting medium because it sort of has a mind of its own. It invites you to let go of some control and to embrace the unexpected. Looking at the trees, I can see the paint is applied in thin, transparent washes, allowing the white of the paper to shine through. I think that this gives the scene an ethereal quality. See how the blues and greens blend, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere? It's as though the landscape is breathing. Then notice the warmer reds, oranges, and yellows of the trees. Each mark is like a little burst of energy. These dabs and strokes create a sense of movement, like leaves rustling in the breeze. The beauty is in the simplicity and directness of the marks. You know, looking at Prendergast's work reminds me of some of Bonnard's paintings. They both have this incredible ability to capture the fleeting moments of everyday life. Art's an ongoing conversation, right?