Maurice Prendergast (
1858-1924) was one of the first
American painters to adopt a post-impressionist style.
His distinctive paintings utilize a pattern of flat, short brushstrokes and bold outlines to create brightly colored scenes of outdoor leisure.
Prendergast was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1858.
In 1868 the family moved to Boston, the hometown of Prendergast’s mother, where the artist attended school through the eighth grade.
Prendergast first worked in a dry goods store and then began earning a living creating show cards—hand-lettered advertisements for store windows.
Maurice Prendergast | Along the Seine, 1892 | Whitney Museum of American Art