Blue paper has been a popular artist material since the fifteenth century. Crafted from blue rags formed into sheets, this humble material that required expert knowledge to produce and had a profound impact on early modern European artistic production. As a middle tone, the material allowed artists to easily model forms in light and dark, while also proving to be well suited for working in colored chalks. Through new technical examination of drawings in the Getty’s collection, this exhibition offers fresh insight into the physical properties of blue paper, and its unique contribution to artistic practice from the 15th through 18th centuries.
This exhibition is presented in English and Spanish. Esta exhibición se presenta en inglés y en español.
SELECTED WORKS
Events
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Publication
Drawing on Blue: European Drawings on Blue Paper, 1400s–1700s
Through the examination of significant works, this volume explores the rich history of blue paper, from the late fifteenth to the mid-eighteenth centuries.
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Exhibition Resources
Learn more about the exhibition.
To request a checklist of objects, please contact: drawings@getty.edu.
Information on Getty Museum works of art can be found through a
collection search