Curved Road, New England c. 1916 - 1919

Maurice Prendergast made this watercolour, Curved Road, New England, with light washes and stippled touches, almost like confetti. He’s dancing on the page with brushstrokes, a joyful process. The pinks and greens, and the way he lays the paint down so thinly, it's almost transparent, like looking through colored glass. You can see the paper underneath, which gives it a light, airy quality. Look at the way he dabs the paint to make the leaves of the trees, or the way he suggests figures with just a few strokes of color. It’s a wonderful shorthand! The red blob of a hat on the woman under the tree is my favourite, it creates a focal point which draws you in. Prendergast's work reminds me of Bonnard, both using color to create atmosphere and a sense of reverie. His work is about the joy of seeing and the pleasure of painting, and the making becomes a subject in itself.