William Merritt Chase: “Study of Flesh Color and Gold”, 1888, pastel on paper coated with mauve-gray grit (on strainer), overall: 45.7 x 33 cm (18 x 13 in.) National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Raymond J. and Margaret Horowitz.
‘The Touch of Color’: Pastels at National Gallery of Art ‘The Touch of Color’: A major exhibition traces the history of Pastel in Art at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, from September 29, 2019, through January 26, 2020.]]>
Source: National Gallery of Art, Washington
The exhibition examines the beauty and depth of pastel, tracing its rich history from the Renaissance to the present day. “The Touch of Color: Pastels at the National Gallery of Art” features some 70 exquisite examples drawn entirely from the Gallery’s permanent collection, including many works never before exhibited.
”The Touch of Color: Pastels at the National Gallery of Art” examines how artists through the centuries adopted different techniques and approaches to pastel, experimenting with this colorful and versatile medium to achieve exciting, often unexpected effects. With a single stroke of a pastel stick, the artist applies both color and line. The line can be left intact or smudged to create passages of velvety tone. Finished works range from the richly illusionist pastel “paintings” of the 18th century to the diaphanous sketches and colorful abstractions of the 19th and 20th centuries.
“’The Touch of Color’ is a chance for our visitors to experience the marvelous qualities of pastel in the hands of great artists,” said Kaywin Feldman, director, National Gallery of Art. “The Gallery’s pastel collection is remarkably deep, with nearly every major period in the medium’s long, full history represented. The strength of the collection gives us a rare opportunity to present an exhibition of this scope and significance.”
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‘Drawings for Paintings in the Age of Rembrandt’, at the National Gallery Washington (exhibition, 2016)
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