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 graphite 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 drawing, titled Study for a Border Design, presents a preparatory sketch executed in graphite. The image is rendered on a trimmed page of tan wove paper, indicating a modest, utilitarian support material typical of the artist’s planning stages.

Technique & Style

The work employs graphite, allowing Pearce to explore line, shading, and compositional balance without the distraction of color. The choice of a book page as a surface suggests an informal, experimental approach, while the trimmed edges focus attention on the developing border motif.

Context

Created during the late nineteenth century, the study reflects the period’s emphasis on decorative borders in book illustration and interior design. Pearce’s practice often involved such preparatory drawings, which served as prototypes for larger decorative schemes.