How should I frame gouache art?

Framing requires acid-free mount boards and glass to prevent direct contact between the fragile paper surface and the glazing. Keeping the work away from direct sunlight protects the water-based pigments from fading. Traditional wooden frames often complement the period of the piece, but conservation-grade materials are essential for long-term preservation.

Pith paper is a spongy material derived from the pith of a specific Asian shrub rather than pressed wood pulp. It absorbs gouache pigments deeply, giving the colours a unique luminous velvety depth. Because the material is exceptionally delicate, these paintings are almost invariably found preserved beneath glass.

How do I identify Chinese export works?

These pieces typically depict traditional junks, maritime trade scenes, figural studies, or botanical specimens rendered in bright gouache. They often date from the nineteenth-century Qing dynasty and utilise pith paper supports. Their distinct aesthetic blends traditional Eastern subject matter with formats tailored for European collectors.

Is gouache the same as watercolour?

While both use water-soluble binders, watercolour is translucent and relies on the white of the paper for highlights. Gouache includes an added white pigment that makes the paint completely opaque. This opacity allows artists to paint light colours over dark ones, creating solid blocks of tone.

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Gouache on Paper Art

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Gouache on paper art brings together opaque pigments and delicate supports to create vivid, light-filled works ranging from botanical studies to modernist abstractions.