Arches Watercolor Paper Block, Cold Press, 7.9" Square

Arches Watercolor Block, Cold Press

This is the world's most sought-after, most renowned watercolor paper: Arches, made in the Vosges mountains of eastern France. This famous watercolor paper does not differ from the standard weight (140 lb.) or surface options (cold press, hot press, or rough.) And yet, it has unique qualities that other papers have never been able to match.

Proprietary Gelatin-Sizing Process— Arches is a traditional gelatin-sized paper. Gelatin is an animal product, so Arches paper is not vegan. The reason it is still used in certain high-end papers, like Arches, is because it offers extraordinary strength and stability when the paper is wet. Arches paper is infused with sizing to its very core, creating sheets that absorb huge amounts of water without deforming. The formula for the sizing and the process by which it's infused are both closely-held secrets of the Arches mill.

Fine Surfaces, Cylinder-Moulded— The texture of Arches paper could only come from the cylinder-mould process, a slow and ancient method that allows the paper fibers to align naturally. The cylinder spins in a vat of cotton slurry, gradually collecting fibers and allowing water to drain through. The paper is then deposited on a natural felt surface and dried. Each manufacturer uses different processes and drying substrates, so the surface of a sheet is an unmistakable signature of the mill.

Arches cold-press paper is strongly textured and ideal for natural subjects. Arches Rough is even more textured, for cosmic granulating patterns and impressionistic landscapes. Arches Hot Press is very finely textured — almost smooth — but with enough tooth to hold color and disperse pigment evenly across the surface. Choose one; you can't go wrong.

Made from Premium Cotton— Arches paper is made from 100% long-fiber cotton, which gives the paper its strength and natural-white color. (Only the finest materials will do for a paper mill that's also known for making banknotes.)

More Pages Per Block— Arches blocks have 20 sheets; many other blocks have 10-15 sheets. So while Arches is a pricy paper, it's worth comparing the cost per sheet. It might be less than you think.

Authentically French— Arches paper is still made in the same village where it was born, more than 500 years ago. While the mill is now part of a larger company, its methods and machinery are rooted in France and deeply connected to the mill's history. Arches is proud to be an official "Living Heritage Company" in France, one of a small number chosen to represent France's industrial and cultural influence around the world.

About Arches

The history of Arches is remarkable and very long — the Arches mill was first consolidated in eastern France in the late 15th century. From the very beginning, Arches was a high-end mill. Some of its earliest clients were the world's first publishers. The proto-books of this period are called 'incunabla,' a type of manuscript printed only until about 1500. Many of them were printed on Arches paper.

In the late eighteenth century, the Arches mill was part of the preservation of Voltaire's literary works. The celebrated French playwright Caron de Beaumarchais, a close confidant of Voltaire, purchased Arches and two other mills after Voltaire's death as part of a grand scheme to publish, promote, and preserve Voltaire's many literary works. (He sold the mills again after 13 years, having preserved his friend's legacy but lost money.)

In the early nineteenth century, Arches was commissioned by Napoleon I to create a specially watermarked paper to commemorate the emperor's return from Egypt. By the late 19th century, Arches was modernizing and industrializing, using its growing reputation to invest in more high-end production techniques. Its main businesses in 1900 were watercolor paper, fine-art printing paper, and banknote paper, just as they would be through the modern era.