Who painted A study in reds?

A study in reds was painted by Beatrix Potter in 1900.

Where can I see A study in reds?

A study in reds is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A study in reds?

A study in reds is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Artwork

A study in reds

Beatrix Potter , 1900

A study in reds is a watercolor work on paper by the Post-Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The picture is framed in a roughly square format, with a vague architectural backdrop illuminated by daylight through a window.

Created in 1900, this watercolour by Beatrix Potter presents a modest still‑life composed of a deep‑red glazed vessel set upon a pair of draped fabrics—one red, one white. Adjacent to the pot rests a Japanese‑style fan decorated with geometric motifs in soft pinks, purples and light browns. The picture is framed in a roughly square format, with a vague architectural backdrop illuminated by daylight through a window.

Subject & Meaning

The work juxtaposes everyday domestic objects—a decorative pot and a folded cloth—with an exotic fan, suggesting a quiet curiosity about foreign design within a familiar interior. The dominant red of the vessel draws the eye, while the muted surroundings provide a calm context, emphasizing the simple pleasure of observing ordinary items rendered with careful attention.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour over an initial pencil sketch, the piece relies on a restrained palette of reds, purples, pinks and browns. Potter employs loose, fluid brushstrokes that soften edges and create a sense of immediacy. The transparent washes allow underlying pencil lines to show, contributing to the work’s airy, lightly modeled appearance.

History & Provenance

The drawing entered the public sphere through the Linder Collection, donated by Leslie Linder to the National Book League—now the Book Trust—in 1970. The institution subsequently loaned the piece to the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it was displayed from 1989 until 2019, providing broader access to Potter’s lesser‑known watercolour studies.

Artist & collection

Artist

Beatrix Potter

Helen Beatrix Heelis (née Potter; 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943), usually known as Beatrix Potter ( BEE-ə-triks), was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist.