Lining Paper 1883 - 1884

Elihu Vedder’s “Lining Paper” (1883–84) is a detailed drawing of a vine with grapes, leaves, and flowers. The artist, known for his illustrations and symbolic paintings, created this study in black and white chalk on brown paper. While Vedder is famous for his more dramatic and allegorical works, this drawing shows his interest in botanical detail, as it’s reminiscent of a pattern that could be used for a wallpaper design. The stylized rendering of the vines gives the artwork a decorative quality, even though it is a preparatory study. The artwork demonstrates the range of Vedder’s artistic interests, while also showing the evolution of his style.