Artwork
Palette
Palette is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist James Henry Moser. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in black ink: JHM [artist's monogram]; upper right in graphite: No 3; lower left in graphite by unknown hand: 1/2 [not deciphered]- / 2 88504 / 5
- Markings
- Marked:embossed lower left: REYNOLD'S / [crown] / BRISTOLBOARD
About this work
Overview
James Henry Moser’s 1890 drawing titled Palette is executed in pen and black ink over a graphite underdrawing on paperboard. The work presents a compact study of a painter’s tools, rendered in monochrome with meticulous line work that captures both form and texture.
Subject & Meaning
The composition isolates a paintbrush with its bristles fanned and still bearing traces of pigment, alongside a modest wooden palette. By focusing on these everyday objects, the drawing reflects a quiet contemplation of the artist’s material practice.
Technique & Style
Moser employs precise cross‑hatching to model volume, allowing overlapping strokes to generate richer shadows and a sense of depth. The graphite foundation establishes the basic shapes, while the ink overlays define the wood grain and the subtle sheen of the brush hairs.
History & Provenance
Created in 1890, the piece is documented as a preparatory study, likely drawn from a real brush and palette that Moser kept at hand. Its modest scale and direct execution suggest it served as a quick observational exercise rather than a finished illustration.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
American (born Canada), Whitby, Ontario 1854–1913 West Cornwall, Connecticut
