At the Shore (Capri) 1899

Maurice Prendergast rendered this watercolour, "At the Shore (Capri)," now held in a private collection, without a specific date. The work presents a vibrant scene of boats and figures clustered along a beach. Prendergast uses a mosaic-like application of colour, fragmenting the scene into a myriad of distinct hues that coalesce into a lively composition. The formal structure is particularly interesting, as Prendergast employs a flattened perspective, reducing depth and emphasizing the surface pattern. This technique aligns with early modernist experiments in depicting space. The materiality of watercolour lends itself to a certain fluidity, yet Prendergast maintains a structured application, creating a tension between spontaneity and control. This tension destabilizes traditional landscape painting expectations, prompting viewers to consider the painting not merely as a representation, but as an arrangement of forms. This formal quality exemplifies how Prendergast engaged with modernism's re-evaluation of artistic representation.