Ever since I started working in watercolor I've wondered about the watercolor artists that came before me. In my imagination I feel a deep connection to them, and long to know about them. And be inspired by their work. So I decided to look around for a good history of the subject. Either in a book or maybe even a university course. If only I could find one.
As far as I can tell watercolor isn't taken all that seriously in art historical circles. Unfortunately this impression was not dispelled when a search came up empty at my public library. So I ordered a book online, called A History of Watercolor, by Bernard Brett. (Hope it's good, I'll have to circle back to you on that.)
Meanwhile I poked around the internet and cobbled together examples of awe-inspiring watercolors from throughout the ages. Thought I may as well begin at the beginning, and take it up to modern times in future posts. I'm no art historian and this is not a scholarly presentation. It's just a small collection, or a sort of scrapbook of fascinating images I found during my explorations.
But first, what is watercolor, anyway? Put simply, watercolor paint consists of finely ground pigments mixed with water. Plus different add-ins for specific effects. The add-ins need to play well with water. This eliminates any oily substance. Because we all know that oil and water don't mix.
As far as I can tell watercolor isn't taken all that seriously in art historical circles. Unfortunately this impression was not dispelled when a search came up empty at my public library. So I ordered a book online, called A History of Watercolor, by Bernard Brett. (Hope it's good, I'll have to circle back to you on that.)
Meanwhile I poked around the internet and cobbled together examples of awe-inspiring watercolors from throughout the ages. Thought I may as well begin at the beginning, and take it up to modern times in future posts. I'm no art historian and this is not a scholarly presentation. It's just a small collection, or a sort of scrapbook of fascinating images I found during my explorations.
But first, what is watercolor, anyway? Put simply, watercolor paint consists of finely ground pigments mixed with water. Plus different add-ins for specific effects. The add-ins need to play well with water. This eliminates any oily substance. Because we all know that oil and water don't mix.
Great Black Bull, Paleolithic Cave Painting, Lascaux, France, ca. 15,000 BC
But wait, hold on a minute. It's only the first painting and already I've broken the rules. Because way back in France, during Paleolithic times, ground up minerals were sometimes mixed with animal fat to make paint. And surely that doesn't qualify as watercolor! But pigments were often mixed with plain old water, too, or even colored plant sap. And while I have no idea if this particular cave painting was made with water-based paints or not, it's still pretty amazing, isn't it? The artist so skillfully depicts the animated spirit of the bull that it almost seems to sprint across the cave wall. So, moving right along ...
Menna and Family Hunting in the Marshes, Egypt, ca. 1400–1352 BC
Next we have the facsimile of a gorgeous painting from the Tomb of Menna in Luxor, Egypt. (Copy by Nina de Garis Davies, Metropolitan Museum of Art). Another example of ancient artists that closely, and I would say lovingly observe the animals and plant life in their world. The original was painted using mineral pigments mixed with gypsum and water. Definitely water based. And painted on a plaster wall, not a cave. (But is it a fresco? Um, I dunno, but I tried to find out, really I did.)
Dolphin Fresco, Minoan palace of Knossos, Crete, ca. 1700-1450 BC
Okay so now we're definitely in true fresco territory. Nature-loving artists in ancient Crete used water-based paint on freshly plastered walls. Painting on wet plaster is the very definition of fresco. And because it was fresh and moist the colors sank right into it, which made the image quite durable. Maybe that's why we still get to enjoy this charming painting of playful dolphins, even though it's so very, very old.
Wall painting at Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale, Italy, ca. 50–40 B.C.
What an incredibly beautiful fresco painting, right? Apparently it's a rather large mural painted in a Roman-style. Discovered in an excavated villa near Pompeii in southern Italy. Notice how three-dimensional the figures and chair are, and how the sparkling eyes seem to look back at us from across time. So different from the work we've seen so far. Can you imagine how many exquisite paintings must have existed in ancient Roman times? The only reason we have any of these mural paintings at all is because Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, which buried and preserved them in volcanic ash. Phew.
Loquats and Mountain Bird, Anonymous Southern Song Artist, China, ca. 1127-1279
Meanwhile, in ancient China, artists were busy painting with ink and watercolor on silk. How skilled they were at capturing the beauty and fleeting pleasures of nature! Observe the holes and brown spots in the leaves, and how the bird looks as if it might take off and fly away at any second. So much to admire and learn from the artists of the past!
Well, that's it for now, folks. Stay tuned for Part II.
Well, that's it for now, folks. Stay tuned for Part II.
I'd love to hear from you!
Click on the comment section below to add your questions and comments.
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