Artwork
Incense
Incense is a watercolor work on paper by the American Impressionist artist Percival De Luce. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Here, he slows down and lets the smoke do the work, thin watercolor layers build the haze without smudging.
A woman in a pale dress leans over a smoking incense burner. Soft light spills across her face and the folds of her sleeves.
De Luce painted this in 1899, when most American artists were chasing European styles. Here, he slows down and lets the smoke do the work, thin watercolor layers build the haze without smudging. The quiet moment feels almost like a photograph, but gentler.
Look up the technique called glazing next.
Overview
Incense is a watercolor work by Percival De Luce, created in 1899. It is a genre scene featuring a woman in a contemplative pose.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman leaning over a smoking incense burner, her face and clothing illuminated by soft light. The serene atmosphere suggests a quiet, introspective moment.
Technique & Style
De Luce employed thin layers of watercolor to achieve a hazy effect, reminiscent of glazing. This technique allowed him to capture the subtle nuances of light and atmosphere without obscuring the image.
Context
Painted in 1899, Incense diverges from the prevailing European influences that dominated American art at the time, instead embracing a more subdued and intimate approach.
Artist & collection
