Virgin and Child with Saints 1759

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo painted Virgin and Child with Saints with watercolor on paper. It's striking how fluid the washes of color are, especially when you consider that paper is a relatively unforgiving surface. Unlike canvas, you can't rework it easily. Notice the translucent quality of the pigments, how they allow light to penetrate and reflect back, creating a luminous effect. The speed and skill required to achieve this effect is impressive, and speaks to Tiepolo's mastery of the watercolor technique. Think about the social context too. While oil painting on canvas was considered the more prestigious medium for grand narratives, watercolor on paper was often associated with preparatory sketches, or with more intimate, personal works. Tiepolo's choice to execute this devotional subject in watercolor blurs the lines between the public and private, the monumental and the miniature. So next time you see a watercolor, don't just admire the pretty colors. Think about the artist's choices, the labor involved, and the cultural associations of the materials.