Summer Outing 1913

Maurice Prendergast made this watercolor called "Summer Outing" on paper, and you can see the paper right through the watercolor, which is great, because it makes the whole thing glow. I just love how Prendergast applied the paint. Look how he built up these layers of color, dotting and dabbing, with greens and blues to create a hazy summer scene with figures bathing at the water’s edge. I can almost feel the sun on my skin! It’s like he’s using color to describe form. He's made some lovely marks—see those little dots of color, like confetti, scattered across the surface? I bet he was happy when he made this. I mean, I'm happy just looking at it. And he was looking at Bonnard, Vuillard, and all those guys—that much is clear. This painting feels alive because it's so sensual and imprecise. It reminds me that art isn't about answers, it's about keeping the conversation going.