From Dürer to Renoir: Prints Exhibition at Harn Museum

Written by Christopher Tipton Wednesday, 15 December 2010 00:15

GAINESVILLE, FL – On July 17, 2007, the Harn Museum of Art premieres an exhibition of more than 40 prints from 1500 to 1900 that explore themes such as politics, religion and travel. “From Dürer to Renoir: European Prints from the Harn Museum Collection” features etchings, lithographs and woodcuts demonstrating the various themes and uses for prints, including as illustrations for books and newspapers, and as limited editions for the art market. Featured are 25 artists from Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

The earliest works in the exhibition include Michael Wolgemut’s woodcuts from the illustrated world history, the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493), and several woodcuts depicting religious themes by Albrecht Dürer, Wolgemut’s most famous pupil. Prints dating to the 16th and 17th centuries include mythological subjects by Agostino Carracci and Salvator Rosa, and subjects dealing with contemporary life by Jacques Callot, Anthony van Dyck and Rembrandt van Rijn. Travel to exotic lands—a fertile subject for the graphic arts during the period—is the theme of several works on display, including Theodor de Bry’s engravings depicting early expeditions to the St. Johns area, Brief Narration of Europeans in Florida (1591).

Lively and amusing prints by Francisco Goya, William Hogarth and Honoré Daumier demonstrate political satire, a popular theme in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. A selection of inventive and experimental 19^th-century prints by French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists such as Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec are also featured.

“The works represent many important achievements in European printmaking and also provide a unique view of the artistic and cultural climate in Europe during the period,” Harn Museum Curator of Modern Art Dulce Román said.

The works on display are drawn primarily from the Harn Museum collection and are supplemented by a few prints from private Florida collections and a selection of books on loan from the University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries. From Dürer to Renoir will be on display through Jan. 6, 2008. Support has been provided by the Eloise R. Chandler Endowment.

Admission to the Harn Museum of Art is free. For more information visit www.harn.ufl.edu or call 352.392.9826.