November 2007
ATHENS, GA — Devotional Prints from Germany and the Netherlands, an exhibition highlighting prints of religious subject matter, will be on view at the Georgia Museum of Art from Jan. 19, 2008, through March 16, 2008.
This exhibition brings together more than 60 religious-themed prints from the 15th through the 20th centuries drawn from the museum’s collection of European works on paper, which is one of the biggest in the South.
Among the featured artists are Max Beckman, Pieter Bruegel, Otto Dix, Albrecht Dürer, Hendrick Goltzius, Rembrandt van Rijn and Martin Schongauer.
While devotional prints serve as substitutes for the written word for those who lacked basic literacy skills, they also provided easily accessible commentary on figures and stories from religious texts. The prints were relatively inexpensive to produce, were circulated widely and offered the viewer the ability to reflect on or discuss a variety of sacred topics.
Some prints combine image and text to enrich the viewing experience, while others reproduce larger or popular works of art. In certain cases, religious subjects serve as pretexts for the use of other motifs, including detailed landscapes, a genre that rose in popularity in Europe beginning in the 16th century.
“The production of devotional images was the staple for artists working in Germany and the Netherlands, and the medium of prints allowed them to advertise their skills in design and narration to a broad European clientele,” said
Giancarlo Fiorenza, Pierre Daura Curator of European Art.
“Visitors will be surprised to discover the subtleties and variety of ways biblical stories and the lives of saints were updated and made relevant for contemporary audiences, especially through the use of symbols, emotions and fantastic or familiar settings.”
Want to see what 24 hours of creative awesomeness look like? Click here.
This news message is supported by The Creative Finder, an online platform for photographers, illustrators, designers, and art directors to promote their portfolios towards new clients and collaborators. Creatives who wish to sign up for an account can save 10% off annual fees with promo code 'designtaxi'.
