Paper and Light – Luminous Drawings

The treatment of light and shadow is one of the building blocks of drawing, and artists have found innovative and dazzling ways to create spectacular effects. This publication examines the central relationship between paper and light in the world of drawings in western European art from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.

The treatment of light and shadow is one of the building blocks of drawing. From techniques such as reserves, and highlights to material selection and the creation of translucent tracing paper, to the use of light as a medium for viewing artworks, artists for hundreds of years have found innovative and dazzling ways to create light on a sheet of paper. This publication examines the central relationship between paper and light in the world of drawings in Western European art from the Renaissance to the twentieth century. Highlighting drawings from the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, as well as works from the British Museum, Musee du Louvre, and others, and featuring masterful works by such artists as Canaletto, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt van Rijn, Odilon Redon, Edgar Degas, and Georges Seurat, Paper and Light will entice readers to look longer and more closely at drawings, deriving an even deeper appreciation for the skill and labor that went into them. EXHIBITIONJ. Paul Getty Museum, Getty CenterOctober 15-December 14, 2024