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Awash with Color

A vintage painting depicts a bustling cobblestone street scene with horses, carriages, and people. Two women walk in the foreground, dressed in 19th-century attire. A building with a clock tower is visible in the background.
The Old Poydras Market, New Orleans HNOC, 1980.217

Awash with Color

Seldom-Seen Watercolor Paintings by Louisiana Artists, 1789–1989

An exhibition of watercolors from the HNOC's holdings

January 21 to June 4, 2016

Laura Simon Nelson Galleries

400 Chartres Street

Watercolor is a versatile and easily transportable medium. Artists in the nineteenth century used it to paint landscapes en plein aire and to make preliminary sketches before executing an oil painting. In the 20th century, the medium became more popular for completed paintings.

Watercolor is applied in delicate, transparent layers that capture the infinite effects of light on color, as seen in the translucency of breaking waves, reflections in a puddle of rain on cobblestones, sunlight on crisp fabric, moldering walls, luminous skin. It can be a difficult medium to work with because it is quick drying, and brushstrokes cannot be reworked, as with oil paint.

If exposed to light for long periods of time, the thin layers of waterborne pigment will fade, which explains why the paintings featured in Awash with Color: Seldom-Seen Watercolor Paintings by Louisiana Artists, 1789–1989 have only very rarely been exhibited. Approximately 70 paintings by artists both well known, such as Walter Anderson and Alfred Jacob Miller, and more obscure, including Joseph Richards and William Thomas Smedley, were on display.

The subjects of the paintings include landscapes, genre scenes, architectural drawings, advertisements, Mardi Gras float designs, and portrait miniatures on ivory. Artists’ sketchbooks, a paint box, and a porcelain watercolor tray help make the creative process more tangible for visitors.

Featured works

A painting of an old cemetery with mausoleums and tombstones in disrepair, surrounded by grass and a house in the background. A telephone pole and a cross-topped structure are also visible. The sky is clear and blue.
Houses and Cemetery, between 1933 and 1939, by Clayre Barr. HNOC, gift of Albert Louis Lieutaud, 1968.12.2
A whimsical illustration featuring a large donkeys head surrounded by various flowers and plants. Tiny figures, possibly fairies, interact with the flora. The scene is detailed and colorful, conveying a fantasy garden atmosphere.
Midsummer Night's Dream, 1898, by Jennie Wilde. HNOC, 1986.187.7
A historic ship painted with earthy tones floats on calm waters under a soft, orange-tinted sky. Sparse vegetation lines the horizon, and faint structures are visible in the distance, creating a serene and nostalgic atmosphere.
Hotel Dieu near Southwest Pass, 1871, by Alfred Rupolph Waud. HNOC, 2000.80.2
A watercolor painting of a charming courtyard with a green wooden staircase, surrounded by lush greenery. A hanging lantern adds to the rustic atmosphere. In the background, an arched entryway leads to a sunlit brick wall.
French Quarter Courtyard, between 1935 and 1950, by Eugene E. Loving. HNOC, 1989.129.3
Painting of a person wearing a white hat and apron, standing at a table with a yellow bowl, in what appears to be a kitchen. The style is loose and expressive, with bold brushstrokes.
Washerwoman, 1949, by Samella Sanders Lewis. HNOC, 20215.0365
A vintage illustration of a woman in military uniform, featuring a side profile. She wears a hat and gloves, with medals on her chest and stripes on her sleeves, set against a plain background. The style is reminiscent of early 20th-century art.
Natalie Vivian Scott, ca. 1920, by Bernice Marie Thrall. HNOC, gift of Charlotte Fontenot, 2009.0177
A serene watercolor painting depicts a sandy beach with gentle dunes, a calm sea on the left, and a few small boats resting on the shore. The sky is clear and light, suggesting a peaceful, sunny day.
Grand Isle, ca. 1925, by Ellsworth Woodward. HNOC, 20215.0464.16
A bustling dock scene with steamboats, including the Nashville and Cairo, in the background. Workers are loading and unloading cargo, and people are engaged in various activities. Smoke rises from the boats under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
The Levee at New Orleans, 1959, by Boyd Cruise. HNOC, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond H. Kierr in memory of Robert M. Kierr, 1992.94
A watercolor illustration showing four performers on stage. Three women, dressed in blue, are singing into microphones, while a musician in the background plays a keyboard. The scene is vibrant, with a lively atmosphere.
Jazz Fest 89: the Spiritualettes—Swinglo Sweet Chariot, 1989, by Timothy Trapolin. HNOC, gift of Timothy Trapolin, 1989.132.2

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