If life hands you lemons, make lemonade. If it hands you a 17th-century Dutch print, arrange an art exhibit.
It is indeed thanks to a series of coincidences that the College's Mead Art Museum is able to present its "Dutch Masters of the 17th Century" exhibit which went up recently and will run through Aug. 20.
One of the acts of happenstance that allowed for the launching of the exhibit was the recent acquisition of "Triumph of the Mordecai," by Rembrandt van Rijn, donated to the Museum by Albert Barnett '52.
Five out of the 13 pieces that make up this exhibit are by Rembrandt, and "The Triumph of the Mordecai" is one of his pieces currently on display in the Gallery. Rembrandt is, as most students of fine art would undoubtedly know, the best known of all the Dutch masters and the one most readily associated with this period and art medium. And it is his birth that inspired the exhibit, which now so appropriately features him: 2006 marks the 400th anniversary of the master printmaker par excellence.
The works on display also include part of a collection of prints, etchings and drawings of various Dutch artists including Nicolaes Berchem, Pieter van Laer, Hendrik Goltzius, Paulus Moreelse and Jacob van Ruisdael.
According to Carol Solomon Kiefer, Curator of European Art, the works featured are meant to show the breadth of techniques and subjects that were representative of the era. "[On display we have] religious images, landscapes and genre-that is, scenes one might encounter in everyday life. They show different techniques such as woodcuts, engravings and drawings," explained Kiefer. The display also flaunts some more atypical pieces, such as one by Geertruydt Rogham, one of the few woman printmakers at the time.
Because of the light-sensitivity of the prints, the prints now on display will be taken down halfway through the exhibit and, in Solomon's words, "they'll sleep," while other prints of the same period will be featured in their place. All pieces of this exhibit are part of the permanent collection of the Mead and, in conjunction with all other works currently on display, are "but the tip of the iceberg," as Solomon likes to say.
So, why, a curious visitor to the Mead may wonder, has the museum decided to display these particular pieces? The commemoration of Rembrandt's birth, and his "Triumph of the Mordecai" were important factors. But why focus on Dutch art in the first place?
The idea came as part of the larger regional cultural event called GoDutch! that the new consortium, Museums10, is organizing for the spring of 2006. This represents the third coincidence (after the acquisition and Rembrandt's anniversary). But according to Solomon, coincidences are always there to be found by the keen-eyed. "Museums in the area are always looking to find ways to collaborate with each other, and we've been planning [Amherst's] exhibit for over a year with Museums10," said the curator, in rather eager anticipation of the region-wide events.
All Five College museums belong to the Museums10 consortium, and they are all participating in the GoDutch! program this spring, with a variety of exhibits celebrating Dutch culture.
The Hampshire College Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is presenting an exhibit titled "Creative Connections: The Art of Eric Carle and Leo Lionni", from Feb. 3 to Sept. 3 featuring the Dutch-born artist Lionni. From Mar. 28 to Jun. 9., the museum will also be putting on its show, "Dutch Treats: Contemporary Illustration from the Netherlands" which features an in-depth exhibition of 13 Dutch artists.
In "The Golden Age: Dutch Prints and Drawings from the Collection," Smith College's Museum of Art will have an exhibit of 40 prints and drawings from Mar. 4 to Jun. 4.
From Mar. 21 through Jul. 31, Mt. Holyoke College Art Museum will run its "Designing the Natural World Through Dutch Eyes" exhibit, featuring 17th-century landscapes by Dutch artists. Other galleries at the college will display "Netherlandish" paintings of landscapes and still lifes. The museum will also be organizing a series of "Through Dutch Eyes" family activities, which will include a self-directed scavenger hunt and still life drawing.
The University Gallery of the University of Massachusetts will show an exhibition of works by contemporary Dutch artist Avery Preesman from Mar. 31 to May 19, featuring the artist's colorful abstract paintings and wall reliefs, which will then go on tour to the prestigious Renaissance Society in Chicago.
So take a stroll through Mead or the other museums one of these weekends. If my experience with the Dutch masters was anything to go by, an exhibit of such quality and renown rarely comes around.