Maurice Brazil Prendergast (1858-1924)
Brittany Coast, ca.1892-94
Watercolor on wove paper
Harriett Russell Stanley Fund, 1947.17
Brittany Coast depicts women and children enjoying an afternoon on the beach, watching the sailboats in the distance. The artist’s use of vibrant blues, purples, and greens, applied in delicate and expressive strokes, enliven the scene. Prendergast suggests form through his use of color and simple shapes, allowing the viewer’s eye to envision the finer aspects of the scene.