Watercolor, referring both to the medium and the resulting artwork, is a painting method in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution. The pigment dissolves when water is added, allowing the pigment to be spread with a brush, creating a translucent effect. Watercolors are easy to mix and dry quickly, allowing the painter to easily layer colors, creating different shades and hues. Yet watercolors can be unforgiving, as the paint needs to be laid the first time perfectly, as any attempt to paint over can change the darkness of a color or create a muddied effect.

Historically, watercolor paintings have been found on cave walls, papyrus, plastics, and fabrics like silk and leather.  Watercolors became popular in Egypt and China before emerging in Europe during the Renaissance Period. A similar technique was used for fresco wall painting, with pigments later being applied to paper. It also became a popular way to create topographical maps. Today, the most popular surface for watercolor paints is watercolor paper, a type of paper made entirely or partially from cotton with a slightly textured surface that minimizes distortion of the paint by absorbing excess water.

Explore watercolor paintings in the collection