Woman with a Parasol 1902

Maurice Prendergast made this atmospheric monotype, *Woman with a Parasol*, probably around the turn of the last century. It’s dark, moody, and full of subtle color washes, with a figure that appears to be emerging from the shadows. I'm thinking about that moment when the artist put the ink down on the plate, kind of like finger-painting—the directness and immediacy, the way the ink smudges and spreads. Prendergast’s monotypes remind me of Degas, who also did many monotypes of women, but Prendergast's image feels more intimate, like a personal gesture or a fleeting impression. I love how he captures the essence of this woman with just a few strokes and blotches of ink. The dark, sweeping gestures of her dress contrast with the lighter, more delicate touches of her face and hair. It gives the whole image a feeling of being both substantial and ethereal, as if she might dissolve back into the shadows at any moment.