February 19 -22 - 2026 'aqua et tinctura' watercolour exhibition by Rosa Ma. Quera - Curated by Aminda Saludes

Cal Paleta 2-4, Av. Coprincep de Gaulle, AD700 Escaldes-Engordany - Andorra

Text for Rosa Ma.Quera's exhibition catalogue 'aqua et tinctura' March 19.22.2026

 by Aminda Saludes Hewett, curator 

Watercolour is an ancient form of painting, if not the oldest art form itself, dating back to the cave paintings of the Paleolithic period. It has been used for the illustration of manuscripts since at least Egyptian times, with particular importance in the European Middle Ages. Its history as an artistic tool continues until the Renaissance, when watercolour emerges as an important medium, evolving from the decoration of manuscripts to the creation of landscapes and detailed studies.  

The greatest exponent of this technique was Albrecht Dürer, a prominent German Renaissance watercolourist who pioneered its use  for detailed studies of nature, landscapes, and animals with naturalistic precision and great luminosity.

Until the late 18th century, traditional watercolours were known as “tinted drawings.” The 19th century saw major changes in the techniques of artistic expression, as well as in its philosophy. One example of this, was that many artists in Europe began to see watercolour as a serious method, and not only for practice or experimentation, as it became a favorite of landscape and impressionist painters, making the period from 1800 to 1900 one of the best for the rise of watercolor painting.

Watercolour, which is the technique used by Rosa Ma. Quera, a practice she masters exceptionally well, is undoubtedly one of the most difficult disciplines due to the spontaneity it requires; but, needless to say, it is one of the most beautiful when it is achieved in its full colour, such as in the transparency of the brushstrokes, which puts us in visual contact with figures and objects that allthough familiar to us, reach through their treatment the dimension of what is truly artistic.

Transparency is the main characteristic of watercolours. It consists of a mixture of pigments, such as gum arabic and glycerin, which, together with other components, allow the colour pigment to unite and form the paint paste, which we know as watercolour. Regarding colours, the quality of the pigments and their degree of concentration is what determines the value of the watercolor. A paint that has a high concentration of pigment allows one to use it with a large amount of water without losing the intensity of the colour.

“Whenever we refer to watercolour, we must mention the difficulties of execution; not only in the handling of water and colour, in the technique, in short, but also in the expressive qualities in the representation and interpretation of the selected themes. Rosa M. Quera’s work is realistic and, although she likes all themes, what motivates her most is nature itself.” Alfredo Guati Rojo

“It is fantastic to let water and pigment play on the paper, and give the drawing unexpected effects. This gives freedom to my work.” RMQ.

Rosa Ma. Quera has been one of the distinguished students of the master Alfredo Guati Rojo among those who have attended his workshop, to the point that she is now one of the teachers at the National Watercolor Museum.

“It would be incomplete to try to describe a good plastic artwork because not only technique and craft are involved; it is also the sensitivity and passion that at a given moment constitutes the final touch that shows the finished work” José Eugenio Ciurana

In the 21st century, watercolour painting is experiencing a renaissance marked by a fusion of traditional techniques with contemporary approaches such as digital integration, mixed media, and innovative materials. Digital tools offer freedom from traditional limitations, allowing experimentation with multimedia elements and new aesthetic characteristics. The digital space has radically transformed the way watercolour art is created, perceived, and shared, leading to its renaissance and wider reach.