Rockport, Mass. 1923

Maurice Prendergast painted this watercolour, Rockport, Mass., and it's like a fleeting memory caught on paper. Just imagine Prendergast outside with his paints, capturing the scene with quick, fluid strokes. It's interesting to think about how the light and colours might have shifted as he worked, influencing his choices. The houses and figures, rendered in soft, translucent washes, create a dreamlike quality. I keep looking at the red house in the middle, wondering what it would be like to live there, overlooking the town. There’s a horse on the right side of the picture, a very casual horse. Prendergast’s loose brushwork reminds me of other Impressionists like Bonnard, who also used colour to evoke mood and atmosphere. He builds on what they did, adding his own voice. Artists are always in conversation, remixing the past to create something new. It’s like we're all part of one big, messy, beautiful painting.