Aquarelle

"The history of watercolour runs parallel to the history of painting itself spanning centuries, beginning with early cave paintings and Egyptian manuscripts. Though popular in medieval Europe, watercolours gained prominence during the Renaissance with Albrecht Dürer’s finely detailed botanical and landscape studies. Initially used for documentation in the 18th century, they now evolved into a vibrant mode of artistic expression.

The formation of the Society of Painters in Water Colours (1804), now the Royal Watercolour Society, marked a turning point as art collecting rose in 19th-century England. Simultaneously, Chinese brush-and-ink traditions blended with European techniques, inspired the Japanese and eventually the Bengal School of Art in India. Masters like Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose pioneered this medium as part of a cultural revival.

Watercolour’s affordability and accessibility by using natural pigments like turmeric and indigo made it popular across social classes and geographies. It was widely adopted by geologists, archaeologists, and travellers for its portability and efficiency in field documentation. In Europe, Romantic painters like J.M.W. Turner elevated it to a poetic art form, while French artists like Delacroix and Daumier expanded its expressive possibilities.

With the advent of photography, watercolours shifted from documentation to exploration. Impressionists such as Cézanne and Signac used glazes of pure colour to create luminous landscapes, while 20th-century icons like Kandinsky, Klee, Hopper, and O'Keeffe used watercolour to push conceptual boundaries.

In India, watercolours blended British academic and Oriental traditions, particularly during the Bengal revival. This continued through modernists like K.G. Subramanyan and Akbar Padamsee, and remains significant even today. Contemporary artists such as T.V. Santosh, Mithu Sen, and Atul Dodiya continue to explore its expressive, fluid character, affirming watercolour’s enduring legacy and challenge.
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