At the Beach

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

Prendergast depicts the wide and tranquil beach of Revere, Massachusetts, setting groups of brightly dressed figures (one astride a donkey or mule) against the blue water. Rainbow-colored clouds and a few sailboats float across the canvas. A pioneer of American modernism, Prendergast presents the scene as a pattern of bright colors, blending sources ranging from Venetian Renaissance paintings to recent works by Cézanne and Matisse. His many paintings of crowded seashores reflect the increased leisure time afforded to working Americans as a result of recent labor reforms.

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