Rubens and His Printmakers at The Getty Center

Friday, 01 September 2006 11:18

Los Angeles, CA - Peter Paul Rubens employed a small army of artists to make prints after his most successful paintings, drawings, and tapestry designs, thus increasing his fame throughout Europe.  This exhibition explores the close working relationship between Rubens and his printmakers, elucidating a fascinating aspect of artistic collaboration. Not satisfied with making mere reproductions of his pictures, Rubens encouraged his artists to modify his compositions, which he also often reworked.  In attempting to meet Rubens' strict demands, his printmakers contributed significantly to the development of Western printmaking techniques.

At the height of his career, Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens directed a concerted campaign to reproduce and disseminate his paintings, drawings, and tapestry designs in printed format.  Rubens had been dissatisfied with the earlier, frequently unauthorized reproductions of his work.  In 1619 he obtained legal authority to copyright his images and hired printmakers to translate his compositions into authorized reproductive engravings and woodcuts.

Rubens closely supervised the copying of his work, avoiding artists who tried to impose their own ideas and styles on the reproductions, and encouraging printmakers to imitate his painterly effects.  His challenging demands were met by many printmakers, whose printed masterpieces solidified Rubens's reputation and influence.

On Exhibition until 24 September. 2006.  Visit The Getty at : www.getty.edu/