Untitled (Sailboat Race) c. 1950

This untitled sailboat race by William Parker Abbe is rendered with flat, stylized shapes and vibrant hues. I love the way the boats jostle for position, sails billowing, under a teal sky. I imagine Abbe, with his mid-century eye, carefully considering each shape and colour choice—the crisp white sails against the sea green, the playful border of stylized waves. He must have stood at his easel, brush in hand, pondering how to capture the energy and excitement of the race in such a simplified form. Each stroke of paint seems deliberate, aimed at distilling the essence of movement and competition into a harmonious composition. It reminds me of Stuart Davis, someone else who loved simplifying the world into graphic forms and colours. Abbe invites us to share in his love for the sea and the thrill of the race, a timeless theme explored by artists across generations.