Aquarelle

“I do not judge, I only chronicle…”

John Singer Sargeant, Artist

Watercolour is referred to as Aquarelle by the French. It is a great name, and removes any conflict about the spelling of the word colour. Fountain pen enthusiasts will be pleased to note that art can also be produced using water soluble inks, the term being Aquarelle Altramento. Watercolour painting techniques have a long history in China and Japan. In Europe they were usually considered inferior to great art pieces in oil or tempura. A watercolour was produced as the hasty and imperfect prelude to the definitive work in oil. In the 18th Century the trend for rapid outdoor painting saw a surge in watercolour works, as did printing processes that could rapidly reproduce watercolour images for sale to the public. Watercolours were ideal for scientific images, maps and books. By the 19th Century this style of painting had been taken up by the masses. It was quick, portable and cheap. The subjects were personal and from everyday life. It was very much the social media of the time. #quickeasyfun #letsmakelemonade