The Power of Pigments

The invention of synthetic pigments in the 19th century made it possible for artists to quickly and easily create drawings in colour. This small-scale exhibition shows a selection of these drawings by artists such as Van Gogh, Redon, and Gauguin.

In the 19th century, drawing in colour became a significant art form, owing in part to the availability of new synthetic pigments. Artists – from realists to pointillists and from Impressionists to symbolists – started using materials such as pastel and watercolour to express themselves on paper.

These works were often exhibited alongside paintings, and became popular with a new group of collectors from the upper middle class.

The Power of Pigments offers a refreshing perspective of colourful drawings by 19th-century artists. The presentation includes a selection of highlights from the museum’s collection, works that are rarely put on public display due to their fragility. Several of the works have never been exhibited before.