Open full image Pin

Study for a Panel

Charles Sprague Pearce

1894

watercolor

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Study for a Panel is a 1894 watercolor 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 looks like a rough sketch of a rocky cliffside with a dark cave opening. The colors are mostly pale—beiges and soft greens—with quick, sketchy strokes of red and black. The brushwork is loose, almost like the artist was working fast, leaving some areas blotchy. The mix of watercolor and crayon gives it a scratchy, unfinished feel. The cave’s dark shape stands out against the lighter rock, making it the focal point. Next, check out watercolor to see how artists use this medium for quick studies like this one.