Rising Tide, St. Malo 1907 - 1909

This watercolour wash by Maurice Prendergast, shows a scene at St. Malo, France. It's full of rapid, staccato brush marks that feel fresh and spontaneous. I imagine him standing there, maybe a bit windswept, trying to capture the scene as quickly as possible, using blues, browns, and dabs of red to describe the scene and the crowd. Prendergast’s marks are like notes in a visual diary, each one loaded with information about light, shadow, and the sheer energy of the place. Look at how he suggests the movement of the water with just a few strokes of blue and green. He is not trying to capture every single detail of the crowd but rather gives us a feeling, a mood, a lively atmosphere that we can recognize. I like to think about how these artists are always in conversation with each other, borrowing ideas and techniques, pushing the boundaries of what painting can do. This work embraces the kind of beautiful uncertainty that makes art so endlessly fascinating!