Accession Number
62879
Medium
Watercolor over graphite, with traces of white gouache, on ivory wove paper
Dimensions
31.2 × 48.7 cm (12 5/16 × 19 3/16 in.)
Classification
watercolor
Credit Line
Olivia Shaler Swan Memorial Collection
Background & Context
Background Story
Maurice Prendergast's South Boston Pier (c. 1898) is a watercolor over graphite with traces of white gouache on ivory wove paper. This early work shows the working waterfront of South Boston, with piers, boats, and the activity of the harbor. Prendergast's treatment is fresh and lively, capturing the energy of the waterfront with bright colors and simplified forms.
Cultural Impact
Prendergast's early watercolors of Boston document the city's working waterfront before its transformation.
Why It Matters
This watercolor of South Boston Pier captures the energy of the working harbor with Prendergast's fresh, lively style.
