It presents a selection of exceptional drawings, sourced primarily from the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, and seeks to uncover the influence of blue paper as a medium on the work of numerous artists. The distinctive aesthetic qualities of blue paper, appreciated by artists from the Renaissance on, have earned it a special place in the history of European draftsmanship. Furthermore, this volume investigates considerations of supply, use, economics, and innovative creative practice.
Drawing on Blue: European Drawings on Blue Paper, 1400s–1700s (Getty Museum, $35) traces artists’ use of blue paper from its earliest known application in the 15th century to the advent of synthetic colorants in the 18th century. Stemming from an interdisciplinary study of drawings in major collections in Europe and North America, this book presents the results of new research on the artistic innovation that blue papers represented, their process of manufacture, and the global commercial, cultural, and political forces that enabled its dispersion. As the first study of its kind, Drawing on Blue should serve as an important stimulus to future scholarship on the topic.
This volume accompanies an exhibition on view at the Getty Museum from January 30–April 28, 2024.
