An American Century: Works on Paper from the High Museum’s Collection of American Art

A simple writing implement when applied to paper is the most basic of an artist’s tools. Affordable and portable, these simple materials have enabled artists to prepare a sketch or a fully developed composition nearly anywhere. Pastel, which yielded rich, sumptuous colors, became a favorite of the Impressionists who enjoyed the expressive freedom that drawing with a crayon allowed for. Watercolor encouraged quick, fresh compositions that captured the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Prints, though more technically complex, offered opportunities for new forms of expression and experimentation. Drawn from the High Museum of Art’s Collection of American Art, this exhibition features a selection of works in a variety of media made on paper between 1850 and 1970.