Description
Touching Color. The Pastel Renaissance
Book Summary
This exhibition catalogue explores the rebirth of pastel as an autonomous artistic technique during the 19th century, challenging its status as a mere preparatory tool. Through an international perspective, the work analyzes how the unique qualities of pastel—intense colors, agile execution, and ease of handling—connected with emerging modernity. The reader will discover the key episodes and most prominent figures who elevated this technique to a form of art in its own right, complemented by a carefully curated selection of works that illustrate its evolution.
What is it about?
Although the 18th century is known as the golden age of pastel, it was during the 19th century that this technique achieved its autonomy from oil painting. The book examines this process of emancipation from an international perspective, highlighting how the material’s properties—such as its blended appearance and its ability to create vibrant colors—aligned with a new conception of artistic modernity. The exhibition covers the main milestones of this renewal, highlighting the artists who transformed pastel into an independent and fully recognized form of expression.
Main themes
- Renewal of pastel in the 19th century as an autonomous artistic technique.
- Evolution of pastel technique from the 18th century to its modern consolidation.
- Relationship between the qualities of pastel (color, blending, agility) and artistic modernity.
- Key figures and historical episodes in the international revival of pastel.
- Cataloging and analysis of representative works from the exhibition.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at art lovers, art history students, collectors, and cultural sector professionals interested in the evolution of pictorial techniques. It will also be of great value to those who wish to delve into the transition period between the 18th century and modernity, as well as those looking for an international and rigorous view of pastel as an independent artistic medium.
What this book offers
- A complete and documented vision of the rebirth of pastel in the 19th century, moving beyond the traditional focus centered on the 18th century.
- Detailed analysis of the technical qualities of pastel and its link to artistic modernity.
- International historical and artistic context that allows for an understanding of the evolution of this technique.
- Identification of the key artists and episodes that consolidated pastel as an autonomous art form.
- High-quality visual material from a landmark exhibition.
Technical specifications
- Author: Cécile Gombau, Carlos Martín, Stéphanie Prenant, Saunier
- Publisher: Fundación Mapfre
- Language: Catalan
- Subject: Painting and paintings, exhibition catalogues and specific collections
- Collection: Exhibition catalogue
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publication date: February 2020
- Number of pages: 256
- Weight: 1055 g
Editorial review
This catalogue offers a rigorous and necessary contribution to understanding the transformation of pastel in the 19th century, a period often eclipsed by the splendor of the 18th century. The international perspective and the focus on the technical autonomy of pastel make it a reference work for both specialists and art enthusiasts. Its careful edition and the quality of the reproductions make it especially attractive to those seeking a deep and visually rich study of this technique.