69 - PRENDERGAST, Maurice Brazil (1858–1924)

PRENDERGAST, Maurice Brazil (1858–1924) Young Girls in Hats. Oil on panel. Signed lower left. (significant losses) 25 x 17 cm Note: Maurice Brazil Prendergast (1858–1924) is considered one of the leading figures of American Post-Impressionism. Trained in Paris, where he discovered the works of Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard, and the Nabis, he developed a style characterized by a vivid palette, fragmented brushstrokes, and the decorative nature of his compositions. His travels in Europe—particularly in France and Italy—fueled his interest in scenes of people out for a stroll, gardens, and elegant female figures. He also spent time in the south of France, depicting its landscapes and the lively atmosphere of its vacation spots. This small oil on panel, depicting two young women wearing wide-brimmed hats in front of a southern-style building, bears similarities to the outdoor scenes the artist created during his European travels. Prendergast notably participated in the 1913 Armory Show in New York, a landmark event in the history of American modern art. His works are now held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.