Blue paper has been a popular artist material since the fifteenth century. Crafted from blue rags formed into sheets, this humble material that required expert knowledge to produce and had a profound impact on early modern European artistic production. As a middle tone, the material allowed artists to easily model forms in light and dark, while also proving to be well suited for working in colored chalks. Through new technical examination of drawings in the Getty’s collection, this exhibition offers fresh insight into the physical properties of blue paper, and its unique contribution to artistic practice from the 15th through 18th centuries.

Visit the Getty Museum website for more details.