Snow White and Rose Red
n.d.
Medium
Watercolor over graphite on ivory wove paper, laid down on card
Dimensions
14 × 21.4 cm (5 9/16 × 8 7/16 in.)
Classification
watercolor
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
43678
Art Historical Context
Richard Doyle’s “Snow White and Rose Red” brings the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tale to life through delicate watercolor washes over graphite on ivory wove paper. Measuring just 14 by 21.4 centimeters, the intimate scale invites close viewing, revealing the artist’s careful layering of transparent color to suggest the soft textures of forest foliage and flowing gowns. The work’s classification within the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings department highlights its status as a finished drawing rather than a print, preserving every subtle brushstroke. Doyle’s technique—beginning w...