Venice 1899

Maurice Prendergast captured this scene of Venice in watercolor on paper. Looking closely, you can almost feel the way the paper has soaked up the watery paint. Watercolor is a medium that prizes spontaneity, and the transparency of the washes allow light to reflect off the paper beneath, giving a luminous quality. Prendergast uses this to full effect, capturing the shimmering light on the canal. But notice also the quick, shorthand notations that define the figures and architecture. This gives the image a sense of immediacy. While Prendergast was a trained artist familiar with the traditions of painting, here he chooses to celebrate the informal and the everyday, depicting the bustling life of the city. It's as if he’s inviting us to appreciate not just the iconic views of Venice, but also the fleeting moments of daily life, imbuing the work with the energy of the city and a sense of democratic participation. This approach elevates the ordinary, blurring the lines between high art and the simple pleasure of observing the world around us.