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Study for a Border Design

Charles Sprague Pearce

1894

gouache

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Floral

Dominant colour

Study for a Border Design is a 1894 gouache by Charles Sprague Pearce, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Charles Sprague Pearce
When & what style?: 1894 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a simple but striking design: two rows of green leaves with red berries in between. The background is a light purple, framed by a thin gold border with swirls at the edges. The colors are bright but flat, like a flat, painted pattern. The artist used layers of gold paint to make the border stand out. The berries and leaves look flat, almost like a printed design. Want to see more? Check out Pearce, Charles Sprague’s other work.