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| A detail of the Peter Paul Rubens painting A Sailor and a Woman Embracing between 1615-18. Look at the expression on that man's face. When you see this painting in person, it is so alive it takes you aback! |
FRANÇAIS app de traduction à gauche
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| Portrait of a Lady Unknown Artist. This portrait is life sized and she pops right out of the frame. Pay attention to the detailed work on the embroidery and ruff collar. |
The curatorial journey cleverly begins with religious works. Lavish details and symbolic richness aren't merely aesthetic choices; they become windows into how Flemish citizens interacted with their faith, built communities, and secured their legacies.
As the narrative progresses, the exhibition sheds light on the 17th century's cultural and intellectual vibrancy. Paintings by Rubens and van Dyck, pulsating with emotional energy that reflects a tumultuous era, share the stage with navigational tools and maps, underlining Flanders' role as a commercial and innovative powerhouse.
The exhibition culminates in a truly immersive experience. Inspired by "Kunstkammern," the precursors to modern museums, this final section allows visitors to contemplate the evolving role of art across centuries. Through a captivating blend of paintings and artifacts, we are invited to consider how art has functioned not just as a source of beauty, but also as a tool for connection, wonder, and even social climbing.
By the end, "Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools" delivers not just an appreciation for Flemish artistry, but a nuanced understanding of its local and global significance. The enduring themes explored in these works resonate powerfully, reminding us of the timeless questions that continue to shape who we are. This exhibition is much more than a history lesson; it's a captivating conversation across time, leaving a lasting impression long after you exit the gallery.
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| The Adoration of the Magi by Peter Paul Rubens featuring a colored man in the role of a Magi. I was bedazzled by the elegant incorporation of the black person in the several featured paintings in the exhibition. |
The Dark Stain: Slavery and the Art Market's Rise
The art market's boom (15th-19th centuries) coincided with a horrific period - the rise of the transatlantic slave trade. Fueled by colonialism and capitalism, Europe's growing wealth was built on the backs of millions of Africans.
Starting in 1441, Portugal initiated the trade, forcibly taking Africans for profit. By the 17th century, the Americas joined in, solidifying a system where human beings were treated as commodities. Amsterdam became a major hub, with companies like the Dutch West India Company profiting immensely.
This wasn't just a historical footnote. Slavery's legacy continues. So before modern people feel they are better than those of the past, today, nearly 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery.
In 2018, the countries with the most slaves were: India (8 million), China (3.86 million), Pakistan (3.19 million), North Korea (2.64 million), Nigeria (1.39 million), Indonesia (1.22 million), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1 million), Russia (794,000) and the Philippines (784,000).
This number jumped in 2023: In terms of the largest estimated absolute numbers though, India ranks first (11,050,000 people in modern slavery), followed by China (5,771,000), North Korea (2,696,000), Pakistan (2,349,000), Russia (1,899,000), Indonesia (1,833,000) and Nigeria (1,611,000) and 400,000 in the US plus an estimated 69, 000 in Canada. A grim reminder that economic gain can still come at a horrific human cost.
Credits and curatorial team
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| Chloé M. Pelletier |
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