Maurice Prendergast's "Sketchbook, (I): Sailboats" is a graphite drawing that captures the artist's spontaneous observations of maritime subjects rendered in loose, gestural lines. The work demonstrates Prendergast's characteristic interest in leisure scenes and waterfront activity, approached with the immediacy and freshness typical of sketchbook studies. This drawing exemplifies the artist's ability to convey movement and atmosphere through economical graphite marks, reflecting his broader engagement with modern leisure culture in early twentieth century America.