A work on paper can be a drawing, print, watercolor, collage, or other work that utilizes paper as a support. Artists have used paper for the creation of artwork since its invention in China around 100 BCE. With the invention of printmaking around 1400, paper made a natural support for prints because it was portable, less expensive than other materials, and easily accepted ink. Paper remains the primary support for prints of all types. The disparate media grouped under the umbrella term work on paper are united by several characteristics. Works on paper share some general conservation concerns: they are very light sensitive and should be displayed at low light levels to avoid fading the media. Watercolor in particular is susceptible to fading. They should be housed in acid-free mats to avoid the yellowing caused by acid leaching.

Contemporary artists go beyond the traditional definitions of paper media to create innovative works that combine multiple practices. David Ratcliff tests the resilience of paper by using media like spray paint and acrylic, resulting in surprising hand-hewn imagery that tests the senses. Multi-disciplinary artist Glenn Kaino integrates works on paper into his larger media landscape, often integrating technology and digital printing. Using utilitarian implements like felt pens, Mamadou Cissé generates vast, colorful imaginary landscapes that push beyond the rectangular limits of the paper support. Although works on paper are often relatively small, Till Freiwald creates close-up watercolor portraits at monumental scale, whose largeness and realism can be unsettling.