The artwork “Merry Go Round, Nahant” was created by Maurice Prendergast around 1900 to 1901. This piece, which belongs to the Post-Impressionism art movement, is a watercolor painting on paper. Measuring approximately 34.93 by 48.26 centimeters, this genre painting captures a lively scene at a merry-go-round.
In the artwork, vibrant and dynamic colors depict a merry-go-round adorned with elaborate, colorful horses and filled with children donned in Victorian-era attire. The central red structure of the carousel is surrounded by trees and floating lanterns, adding a whimsical atmosphere to the scene. Various figures, both adults and children, are seen engaging in leisure activities around the foreground and background, contributing to the lively, joyful ambiance characteristic of Prendergast’s work. The scene evinces a snapshot of leisure and community in an early 20th-century seaside town, rendered with the artist’s distinctive brushwork and attention to the interplay of colors and light.
