Artwork
Asian Tea Pots
Asian Tea Pots is a watercolor drawing by the Impressionist artist Henry Farrer. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Henry Farrer's Asian Tea Pots (1882) is a watercolor drawing on paper mounted to paperboard, depicting a still life of two teapots on a table.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a simple, everyday arrangement of two distinct Asian-inspired teapots, suggesting an exploration of form, texture, and possibly the artist's interest in Eastern aesthetics.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor, the work showcases Farrer's use of translucent washes to convey the teapots' materials and reflective qualities, set against a muted, nuanced background.
History & Provenance
Created in 1882, Asian Tea Pots is now part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Context
While not overtly Impressionist in the European tradition, the piece's attention to light and color may reflect broader influences of late 19th-century artistic movements.
Legacy
As a modest still life, its legacy lies more in its representation of Farrer's oeuvre and the period's fascination with Asian motifs rather than groundbreaking innovation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Henry Farrer was an English-born American artist known for his tonalist watercolor landscapes and etchings.
