Figures under the Flag 1905

"Figures Under the Flag" by Maurice Prendergast is a small watercolor painting, a slice of turn-of-the-century leisure. The quick, watery strokes feel really immediate, like he's capturing a fleeting moment. Up close, you can see how the colors bleed and blend. The figures are formed from loose washes. Look at how the red of the umbrella drips down, almost dissolving into the green of the dress. It's not about perfect representation, but about the experience of color and light. The American flag kind of looms in the background, a little blurry, as if it's wavering in the breeze. It is really evoking a mood more than depicting a scene. Prendergast was an independent guy, kind of like Milton Avery in that way. They both were interested in the raw potential of color and form. Neither was too concerned with traditional techniques, and that's something I always appreciate in art.