Art & Print | Collection of graphics of the Olomouc Museum of Art
Nowadays no one really doubts on the significance of graphics, nevertheless, it was not always as definite as it is now. It was often perceived mainly as a medium of reproduction, especially as a source of information on history, culture and art. Very soon, two new complementary levels of graphic print began their progress.
The first and actually the original role of graphics is based on the ability to reproduce, to multiply the picture, and it presents the graphics particularly as a tool for spreading ideas, pictures and thoughts. Even though this fact was and still is the most significant, the same value has since the very beginning its second role, too: the artistic one, the exclusive and supremely authorial one. Both levels could freely meet, mingle and complement each other. The name of the exhibition focused on old graphics relates to interdependence of the picture making-of technology and the artistic purpose of the author.
On the selected exhibits, you can observe the story of the graphics; its historical development and the diversity of its forms and functions: starting with woodcut illustrations from the 15th and 16th century (Michael Wolgemuth, Hans Brosamer, Jost Amman) and followed by virtuous copperplates by the renaissance and mannerist masters (Heinrich Aldegrever, Giorgio Ghisi, Cornelius Cort , Aegidius Sadeler, Hendrick Goltzius), wide range of possibilities and forms of baroque etchings (Pietro Testa, Salvator Rosa, Václav Hollar, Michael Rentz, Giovanni Battista Piranesi) to universality of lithography which dominated the graphics of the 19th century (Honoré Daumier, Antonín Mánes, Josef Führich).
Nowadays no one really doubts on the significance of graphics, nevertheless, it was not always as definite as it is now. It was often perceived mainly as a medium of reproduction, especially as a source of information on history, culture and art. Very soon, two new complementary levels of graphic print began their progress.
The first and actually the original role of graphics is based on the ability to reproduce, to multiply the picture, and it presents the graphics particularly as a tool for spreading ideas, pictures and thoughts. Even though this fact was and still is the most significant, the same value has since the very beginning its second role, too: the artistic one, the exclusive and supremely authorial one. Both levels could freely meet, mingle and complement each other. The name of the exhibition focused on old graphics relates to interdependence of the picture making-of technology and the artistic purpose of the author.
On the selected exhibits, you can observe the story of the graphics; its historical development and the diversity of its forms and functions: starting with woodcut illustrations from the 15th and 16th century (Michael Wolgemuth, Hans Brosamer, Jost Amman) and followed by virtuous copperplates by the renaissance and mannerist masters (Heinrich Aldegrever, Giorgio Ghisi, Cornelius Cort , Aegidius Sadeler, Hendrick Goltzius), wide range of possibilities and forms of baroque etchings (Pietro Testa, Salvator Rosa, Václav Hollar, Michael Rentz, Giovanni Battista Piranesi) to universality of lithography which dominated the graphics of the 19th century (Honoré Daumier, Antonín Mánes, Josef Führich).
Collection of Graphics
is one of the most traditional and most comprehensive collections of the museum. It is divided into two parts; a smaller collection of graphics from the 15th to 19th century and a larger one consisting of modern and contemporary graphics. By this exhibition, where the dividing mentioned above is used, too, the Olomouc Museum of Art continues its research and presentation of its core collections. Nevertheless, both exhibitions and accompanying publications still communicate with each other and let us discover new connections. The presentation of this collection in its whole time period displays and explains the vast range of different functions of graphics since the very beginning of its existence, and, moreover, it shows many various ways of how it has been approached.
Collection of Graphics
is one of the most traditional and most comprehensive collections of the museum. It is divided into two parts; a smaller collection of graphics from the 15th to 19th century and a larger one consisting of modern and contemporary graphics. By this exhibition, where the dividing mentioned above is used, too, the Olomouc Museum of Art continues its research and presentation of its core collections. Nevertheless, both exhibitions and accompanying publications still communicate with each other and let us discover new connections. The presentation of this collection in its whole time period displays and explains the vast range of different functions of graphics since the very beginning of its existence, and, moreover, it shows many various ways of how it has been approached.
The topics include sacred and profane themes, mythology, allegory, history, architecture, landscape, portrait and genre and satiric prints.
Exibition: Art & Print | Collection of graphics of the Olomouc Museum of Art
Place: Museum of Modern Art
Date: November 21, 2019 – March 1, 2020
Author : Helena Zápalková
Translation: Zuzana Henešová, Adéla Horáková
Restoration: Zuzana Kaštovská
Graphic Design: Petr Šmalec
Installation: Vlastimil Sedláček, Filip Šindelář, Dalibor Sedlák, Martin Fišr, Ondřej Žák
Programmes: Terezie Čermáková