Who painted Study for a Border Design?

Study for a Border Design was painted by Charles Sprague Pearce in 1894.

Where can I see Study for a Border Design?

Study for a Border Design is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study for a Border Design?

Study for a Border Design is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Study for a Border Design

Charles Sprague Pearce , 1894

Study for a Border Design is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist Charles Sprague Pearce. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Charles Sprague Pearce’s 1894 work, Study for a Border Design, is a preparatory drawing executed on brown wove paper. The piece combines gouache pigment with graphite, allowing the artist to explore both color and line in a single study. Its modest dimensions and experimental approach reflect its function as a design sketch rather than a finished composition.

Technique & Style

The artist employed gouache, a water‑based opaque medium, alongside graphite to achieve a layered effect. The brown wove paper provides a warm ground that moderates the brightness of the gouache, while the graphite outlines suggest structural intent. This mixed‑media approach enables rapid iteration of decorative motifs typical of late‑19th‑century design studies.

History & Provenance

Created in 1894, the drawing served as a preliminary exploration for a larger border commission, though the final work has not been documented. The piece remains within the artist’s oeuvre of decorative studies, illustrating Pearce’s involvement in ornamental design during the period. Its current location is recorded in museum collections specializing in American art of the era.