You might think of watercolour as pigments suspended in water blending softly into paper in delicate, pale colours. But in reality, watercolour is far from being only sweet and delicate. From travel diaries to abstract compositions, watercolour lends itself not only to a variety of styles but can also be used in combination with other techniques such as ink, drawing and collage. Unlike oil paint or acrylic paint, watercolor was long considered old-fashioned, a simple hobby used by amateur artists to paint charming countryside scenes. Now ever watercolour is thriving at the hands of contemporary artists.
At the very beginning of its history, watercolour was employed mainly for landscapes, travel diaries, sketches and preparatory studies. The medium dries quickly which allowed the artists to work fast. This medium enables artists to achieve an impressive degree of precision, as demonstrated by Dürer's watercolours and his famous Young Hare.
Claude Lorrain, another master of watercolour landscapes, created quick sketches of the Italian scenery that seem to capture on paper the heat of the southern sun making us want to jet off in an instant to travel through Italy. It was William Turner, at the end of the 19th century, who revealed watercolour's ability to create truly atmospheric works. In his paintings the hues melt into each other, creating clouds of colours that transform recognisable landscapes into seemingly mysterious destinations. At the end of the 19th century, watercolour became a technique that artists prised for the freedom of expression that it allowed. Impressionists chose it because it allowed for spontaneity and Auguste Rodin used it for sketching dancers. At the beginning of the 20th century it was thanks to watercolour that the first abstract paintings by Wassily Kandinsky were born. Other avant-garde artists such as Egon Schiele, Paul Klee and Emil Nolde are also great watercolour.
Abandoned for a few decades, watercolor found a place in art once again in the 1960s, thanks to artists such as Raoul Dufy and Zao Wou-Ki. Today, many contemporary artists choose watercolor as their medium of choice as it allows for a variety of possibilities. And on Artsper there is a lot to choose from!
Discover the works of Valerio Adami, an Italian painter and engraver, known for his flat planes of colours and his thick black line contours. You'll find Philippe Pasqua's emblematic skulls and butterflies. If you prefer urban scenes then you should explore the artworks by Nadéra Benmansour who captures on paper the life and vibrancy of cities such as Paris and New York.