For the first time in 50 years, the Kupferstichkabinett is once again presenting an exhibition featuring more than 100 outstanding drawings by 28 Flemish artists from its collection.
The drawings, which are often astonishingly painterly and powerful, were created between 1570 and 1650 and offer fascinating insights into the creative process. The impressive range of subjects extends from Christian and allegorical scenes, through mythological and historical motifs, to genre scenes, portraits, still lifes and landscapes.
Antwerp as an Artistic Metropolis
The period between 1580 and 1660 was shaped not only by continuous conflicts between the European powers but also by formative shifts in religious practice and the emergence of a global trade network. During this era of crisis, in the late sixteenth century, Antwerp developed into the most important trading center in Europe and a hotspot of art production.
Rubens, Jordaens, van Dyck
The exhibition revolves around works by the three great protagonists of the Antwerp Baroque: captivating drawings by Peter Paul Rubens, powerfully sensual works by Jacob Jordaens, and bold sketches by Anthony van Dyck.
Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678), Study of a kneeling apostle, early 1650s, photo: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett / Dietmar Katz
Artistic Networks and Specialization
The exhibition is complemented by works by predecessors and teachers, workshop assistants and contemporaries, reflecting a dense network of professional relationships. Included are works by Jan Brueghel the Elder, David Teniers the Younger, Frans Snyders, Adriaen Brouwer, Sebastian Vrancx, Abraham van Diepenbeeck, Erasmus Quellinus the Younger, Pieter de Jode, David Vinckboons, Lucas van Uden, Lodewijk de Vadder and Jacques d’Arthois. Many of the artists represented specialized in particular subjects, such as genre scenes or landscapes, and collaborated in varying constellations.
Drawings and the Creative Process
Almost all the drawings on display were created in the context of larger projects; as rapid initial sketches, detailed compositional designs or precise individual studies, they served as preparations for paintings, engravings or tapestries. Themes were developed, revised and varied.
The struggle to capture the exact pose of a figure becomes just as apparent as the emergence of an entire composition. In this way, the drawings continue to provide vivid and immediate insights into the creative process and reveal the unexpected richness of Flemish art.
Exhibition Catalogue
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue (ISBN 978-3-88609-915-3).