Salem, Massachusetts 1910

This watercolor, Salem, Massachusetts, by Maurice Prendergast, is a light-filled scene. Imagine the brushstrokes, quick and fluid, dancing across the paper! I imagine Prendergast must have been having a joyful day, splashing down the blues and yellows with playful abandon. He builds the scene, a conversation between light and color, capturing the fleeting atmosphere. The trees in the foreground, rendered in loose, gestural strokes, frame a view of the sea, creating a sense of depth and enclosure. He's totally riffing on Impressionism here but still manages to keep it fresh and exciting. You know, painting is like thinking out loud, isn't it? Each stroke is a decision, a feeling, a response to what came before. I love how artists pick up the baton from each other, passing ideas and inspiration back and forth across time, creating this beautiful, ongoing conversation. It really makes me want to grab my brushes and join in!