Study for a Border Design [recto]

Charles Sprague Pearce

1894

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Floral

About this work

This painting shows a single plant with long, pointed leaves and clusters of small, round berries. The leaves are a mix of green and yellow, and the berries are soft pink. The background is a warm brown, with a thin gold border framing the whole scene. The artist used watercolor and gold paint to create a simple but detailed design. The painting looks like a study, meaning it might be a practice piece for a bigger project. Next, check out watercolor to see how artists use this technique to create soft, layered colors.