Dutch and Flemish Master Drawings and Their Conservation   Cool Light and the open Sea   07.03. – 01.07.2018

Cool Light and the Open Sea

Dutch and Flemish Master Drawings and Their Conservation
Spring at the Kunsthalle Bremen is all about Netherlands art. It gets underway with the exhibition "Cool Light and the Open Sea" with Dutch and Flemish drawings from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries from the museum’s holdings. Following a multi-year restoration project supported by the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung, a selection of these over 900 largely unknown works will be presented for the first time.

In addition to landscapes, imposing windmills and thunderous seascapes, enchanting figure studies, earthy tavern scenes and highly detailed stories can be admired. The range of artists on display – from Jacob Jordaens, Anthony van Dyck, Willem van de Velde and Jan van Goyen to Jacob van Ruisdael and artists from Rembrandt’s circle – reflects the impressive diversity of Netherlandish drawing. In addition, the show will look at aspects of the restoration and examine issues dealing with materials, such as the popular blue paper, drawing utensils, brushes, ink and chalk. Furthermore, it will present the various uses of drawings: squared and traced preliminary drawings for engravings, studies of details for paintings, the very first sketches of ideas, and completely executed works intended for sale. A special highlight will be drawings displayed to reveal for the first time their exciting reverse sides to visitors.


(Fig. above: Hendrik Kobell, Seascape, 1767 (Detail), Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings, photo: Die Kulturgutscanner-Rosenau)

Anonymus, Dutch, Eine mit Seegras bewachsene Muschel, 1698
Feder in Eisengallustinte, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Print and Drawings

Hendrik Kobell, Seascape, 1767
Feder in Braun, grau laviert, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings

Jan van Goyen, Fischer, ihren Fang mit dem Boot anlandend, um 1650
Schwarze Kreide, grau laviert, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Deaprtment of Prints and Drawings

Egbert van Drielst, Weg zum Gehölz
Schwarze Kreide, aquarelliert, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings

Daniël Kerkhoff, Ansicht von Haarlem mit Blick auf die Sankt-Bavo-Kirche
Schwarze Kreide, grau laviert, Pinsel in Schwarz, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings

Simon de Vlieger, Das Osttor von Delft, 1634–1637
Schwarze und braune Kreide, Pinsel in Grau, grau laviert, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings

Abraham van Dijck, Portrait of a girl, 1670ies
Feder in Braun, braun und rot laviert, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings

Cornelis Saftleven, Stehender junger Mann, 1661
Schwarze Kreide, Kohle, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings

Anton van Dyck, Samson and Dalila, c. 1618–1620
Pen and brush in brown, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings

Jacob Jordaens, Die Darstellung im Tempel, c. 1660
Rötel, schwarze Kreide, Graphit, Aquarell- und Deckfarben, Deckweiß, Kunsthalle Bremen – Der Kunstverein in Bremen, Department of Prints and Drawings

For the exhibition a catalogue with 300 pages and numerous color illustrations has been published. (Price: 28 € | ISBN 978-3-935127-35-6)
Available at the museum shop (shipping plus 7,50 € postage & packaging, order by Email).

The exhibition was made possible by funds from the estate of Ralf Hartel, Bremen, as well as by the Circle of Friends of the Kupferstichkabinett and a group of private sponsors.

Restoration made possible by:

Catalogue made possible by:

With the kind support of:

Media partner: