Wadsworth Atheneum
January 16–April 27, 2025
A rarely-seen trove of European drawings spanning 500 years will be on view at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art from January 16–April 27, 2025. Featuring works on paper from the 16th to the late 20th- centuries, Paper, Color, Line is a survey of great European artists showcasing 65 works, some of them on view for the very first time.
“This is a unique opportunity to explore some extraordinary highlights of our European drawing collection. Few people are aware of the breadth and depth of what we have, and this is our moment to share our collection with the world,” said Oliver Tostmann, Susan Morse Hilles Curator of European Art at the Wadsworth Atheneum, “We have exceptional works on paper and thanks to recent research, we have made new discoveries we are excited to display.”
The earliest drawings in the Wadsworth’s collection span the Renaissance and Rococo periods, including masterpieces by Giorgio Vasari, Carlo Maratti, Rosalba Carriera, and Jean-Baptiste Greuze. Although the collection features distinguished examples from these periods, the selection of works from the 19th through the 20th centuries is even stronger.
Edgar Degas, Dancers with Fans, c. 1898. Pastel on paper. The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 1945.209
Dazzling drawings by Gustave Courbet, Edgar Degas, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec can be seen alongside works by Egon Schiele, Paul Klee, and Joan Miró.
Theatrical designs and other drawings by Pablo Picasso, Léon Bakst, and Natalia Gontcharova give a glimpse behind the scenes of the Ballets Russes making a dynamic contribution to the exhibition.
All the drawings show exceptional skill and verve, embodying the timeless immediacy of the physical act of drawing, the singular qualities of each artist’s hand, and the shifts in artistic approach over the centuries.
Organized chronologically along subtle themes, Paper, Color, Line offers a rich overview of five centuries of draftsmanship in Europe. The variety of styles, schools, techniques, and artistic media will appeal to audiences of all ages and backgrounds and those who have ever picked up a pencil and paper—from experienced artists to those just starting out. A drawing can be a deeply personal manifestation of an individual’s vision and abilities, revealing the immediate touch and gesture of the artist who made it.
While the exhibition explores broader topics such as artistic education, technical innovation, and the art market—it is this ability to both see and feel the artist’s individuality through the impact of marks made on paper that has universal appeal.
“The Wadsworth Atheneum began collecting drawings in 1848 and was among the first museums in the United States to acquire great works on paper by artists from Europe. Through gift and purchase, we have formed a remarkable collection that represents some of the finest qualities of Western drawing. This exhibition will make this important, and growing, collection better known and increase public appreciation for this endlessly compelling art form,” said Matthew Hargraves, Director of the Wadsworth Atheneum.”
