On the point
1895
Maurice Prendergast designed this striking cover for Nathan Haskell Dole's 1895 novel, showcasing a bold graphic style that predates his famous mosaic-like watercolors of park crowds. The composition is a love letter to Japanese woodblock prints, featuring a stylized pine tree, flat layers of ocean, and a large, decorative sun. A figure in a sweeping black dress with vibrant yellow hair stands on a dune, creating a dramatic silhouette that feels more like an Art Nouveau poster. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the artist's early commercial work, heavily influenced by his time studying in Paris and the flat, decorative aesthetics of the Nabis movement.
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