Low Tide, Beachmont 1905

Editor: Here we have Maurice Prendergast's "Low Tide, Beachmont" from 1905, rendered in watercolor. There’s a light, breezy feeling to the scene with all these figures scattered amongst the rocks by the shore. How would you interpret this work? Curator: I’m interested in how Prendergast utilizes watercolor in "Low Tide, Beachmont" to depict a scene of leisure. Think about the sourcing and trade of watercolor pigments during this period. Were they readily available? Considering this would give insights into the social context and class dynamics represented in the painting, especially the leisurely scene. How does the choice of watercolor, as a medium often associated with sketches or studies, affect your understanding of this artwork? Editor: That's fascinating, I hadn't considered the accessibility of the materials. It does feel almost like a fleeting glimpse, like he was capturing a specific moment in time, which aligns with the Impressionist style, and with the lower production costs for the quick watercolour study, which is something that is interesting considering the subject matter are wealthy vacationers. Curator: Exactly. It also raises questions about the status of "high art" versus more accessible forms of art production and consumption. Prendergast's decision to use watercolor challenges the established hierarchy. Notice how he's applying the pigment in the rock surfaces compared to the rendering of the vacationers clothing: what does the layering mean in each context? Editor: The figures’ clothing is painted very flat, as opposed to the detailing in the layering of color of the rocks, that´s an interesting comparison... so maybe, by putting more emphasis on the medium rather than the subjects, he invites the viewer to contemplate the act of creation? Curator: Precisely! Considering that this image can now be reproduced endlessly as a digital image, its social meaning morphs once again into one available to a larger population of consumers. Editor: That's a compelling point. I see how the choice of materials and production techniques gives us another angle on Prendergast’s work.