History and Evolution of
Watercolor
From Ancient Egypt to Modern Art
Presented by: Jericho C. Somera
Introduction to Watercolor
• • Watercolor is one of the earliest painting
techniques.
• • Defined as a type of paint mixed with water,
including mediums like Gouache, Tempera,
and Fresco.
• • Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians
used natural pigments and water to create
ritual and funerary art.
Watercolor in Ancient Egypt
• • Egyptian paintings were made from natural
pigments mixed with water, bound to plaster
surfaces.
• • Fresco techniques used on tomb walls.
• • Paintings depicted religious and ritualistic
imagery.
Watercolor in Greece and Rome
• • Greeks and Romans used Fresco for temples,
public buildings, and homes.
• • Roman art introduced more realism,
perspective, and use of colors in Fresco
paintings.
Watercolor in China and the Orient
• • Watercolor was commonly used on silk and
paper in China.
• • The technique flourished in the East,
producing delicate and detailed works.
Watercolor in the Middle East
• • Fresco painting was present but less
prevalent.
• • Manuscript illustrations were the dominant
form of water media art.
Watercolor in the Middle Ages
• • Art during this period often depicted
religious themes, with figures portrayed with
halos.
• • Paintings became more naturalistic as the
Renaissance approached.
Watercolor during the Renaissance
• • Renaissance means 'rebirth,' marking a
return to realism and perspective.
• • Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel was created
using Fresco, a watercolor medium on plaster.
• • Albrecht Dürer used watercolor for realistic
animal paintings.
Watercolor during the Baroque
Period
• • Baroque art became more playful and
decorative.
• • Aelbert Cuyp created notable landscape
paintings using watercolor.
• • Watercolor landscapes became common
across Europe, China, and India.
Watercolor in the 19th Century
• • Used for miniature portraits and landscape
paintings.
• • Artists like John Glover and Winslow Homer
brought atmospheric qualities to watercolor.
• • William Trost Richards elevated the medium
with his landscapes.
Watercolor in the 20th Century
• • Artists like Mary Cassatt, James McNeill
Whistler, and John Singer Sargent made
significant contributions.
• • Sargent's watercolors were celebrated for
their brightness and 'captured sunshine.'
• • Gerhard Richter explored modern
techniques with transparent layering.
Contemporary Developments in
Watercolor
• • 1960s and 70s: Watercolor became more
abstract and expressive.
• • Artists like Edgar Whitney and Paul Jenkins
pioneered loose, wet-on-wet techniques.
• • Acrylic was introduced as a water media
paint.
Conclusion
• • Watercolor has evolved from ancient
mediums to modern art, reflecting various
styles and techniques.
• • Its versatility continues to influence artists
across the world today.
The History of Watercolor in Art
Exploring Watercolor Across Time
and Cultures
Group 5
Before Writing, There Was Art
• • Early forms of painting involved variations of
Watercolor.
• • Watercolor is a paint mixed with water,
including mediums like Gouache, Tempera,
and Fresco.
Watercolor in Ancient Egypt
• • Used for funerary and ritual art.
• • Paints were made from natural pigments
mixed with water and a binder.
• • Applied to surfaces such as plaster, gypsum,
or gesso.
Greek and Roman Fresco Paintings
• • Frescoes were used to decorate walls of
temples, public buildings, homes, and tombs.
• • Romans advanced Fresco painting with more
realism and perspective.
Watercolor in China and the Orient
• • Watercolor became prevalent on silks and
paper.
• • Frescoes were less common in the Middle
East, but water media was often used in
manuscript illustrations.
Watercolor in the Middle Ages
• • Art was heavily influenced by Christian
themes, often depicting figures with halos.
• • As the Renaissance approached, figures
became more naturalistic.
The Renaissance: A Rebirth in Art
• • Return to realism, perspective, and new
forms of art.
• • Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel was painted
using Fresco, a type of watercolor.
Albrecht Dürer and the Northern
Renaissance
• • Dürer created notable watercolor works,
elevating the medium with his detailed animal
paintings.
• • Watercolor began to take on a more familiar
appearance.
Watercolor in the Baroque Period
• • Art became more playful and decorative,
with landscapes becoming prominent.
• • Aelbert Cuyp’s occasional watercolors stand
out in this period.
Watercolor in the 19th Century
• • Used for miniature portraits, landscapes,
and atmospheric qualities.
• • Artists like John Glover created watercolors
with depth and feeling.
Winslow Homer and the 20th
Century
• • Winslow Homer modernized watercolor
with more contemporary styles.
• • William Trost Richards created magical
landscapes using the medium.
Watercolor in the Late 19th
Century
• • Mary Cassatt and James McNeill Whistler
introduced new approaches to portraiture and
modernism.
• • Whistler’s 'Lady in Gray' is a great example
of emotional expression in watercolor.
John Singer Sargent: Watercolor
Master
• • Sargent’s work revolutionized watercolor.
• • His paintings captured sunlight and were
often described as holding 'sunshine.'
Watercolor in the Modern Era
• • Artists like Paul Klee and Edward Hopper
embraced both traditional and modern
techniques.
• • Hopper’s 'The Marshall House' reflects a
sunny, modern feel.
Andrew Wyeth’s Watercolor
Techniques
• • Wyeth used minimal colors, textures, and
creative techniques like scraping and pouring
ink.
• • His works communicated deep emotional
impact.
Watercolor in the 20th Century
• • Watercolor became looser, with wet-on-wet
techniques and elements of abstraction.
• • Edgar Whitney and Paul Jenkins were early
pioneers.
Gerhard Richter and Transparent
Layering
• • Richter’s works featured transparent
layering, showing the beauty of watercolor in
both realistic and abstract forms.
The Evolution of Watercolor
• • Watercolor has evolved through time, from
ancient mediums to modern-day
masterpieces.
• • Its versatility continues to inspire artists
globally.
