18.10.2024

Rembrandt and Hoogstraten in Vienna

Building design

An exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is dedicated to the artists Rembrandt and Van Hoogstraten.
KHM Museum Association

The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is presenting a major exhibition of works by Rembrandt and his pupil Hoogstraten. Both artists were masters of illusionism, and the museum is now juxtaposing the works of the teacher and the pupil, inviting visitors into a world full of illusions.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is presenting works by Rembrandt and his pupil Hoogstraten in a major exhibition. Both artists were masters of illusionism, and the museum is now juxtaposing the works of the teacher and the pupil, inviting visitors into a world full of illusions.

For the first time, the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is organizing a major special exhibition on Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-1669). This show presents a collection of major works by the Dutch Baroque master that has never been seen before in Austria. A special approach has been chosen: Rembrandt’s paintings are juxtaposed with those of his talented pupil Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627-1678).
There was an intensive exchange of artistic challenges in Rembrandt’s workshop. Both artists saw themselves as exploratory painters who were constantly searching for new ways to depict nature and optical phenomena realistically. Rembrandt’s impressive skills in illusion techniques left a deep impression on Van Hoogstraten and shaped his artistic work.
The exhibition brings together works from different genres, which show the artistic competition and personal development of the two painters. Van Hoogstraten, who enjoyed great success at the Viennese court, is highlighted in particular. His “Introduction to the High School of Painting (Inleyding)”, published in 1678, a unique source on the art of painting, also offers valuable insights into Rembrandt’s workshop practice and his art theoretical convictions.

Light played a central role in 17th century Dutch painting, particularly in the depiction of illusions that appealed to all the senses. Rembrandt and Van Hoogstraten were masters of illusionism. The selection of around 60 works highlights their experiments with color and light. The exhibition also makes it clear that both artists were masters at creating deceptively real-looking realities. Paintings from all creative phases of both painters enter into an exciting dialog, giving visitors an insight into the similarities, developments and artistic interplay between the two artists. The show also traces the individual developments of their respective artistic oeuvres. Van Hoogstraten, who was also successful at the court of Emperor Ferdinand III (1637-1657) in Vienna, is particularly honored in this show.
The exhibition brings together the Rembrandt and Hoogstraten holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum for the first time, including important works such as Rembrandt’s “Large Self-Portrait”, “The Prophetess Hannah” and Van Hoogstraten’s “Old Man in the Window”. The show is complemented by important loans from national and international museums, such as Rembrandt’s “Girl in a Picture Frame” from the Royal Castle in Warsaw, his “Young Woman in Bed” from the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh and Van Hoogstraten’s “Perspective View with a Young Man Reading” from the Dordrechtsmuseum as well as the “Eye Deceiver Still Life” from the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe. Other important museums and private collectors are also contributing loans.
Museum Het Rembrandthuis in Amsterdam is a scientific partner of the exhibition, which also contributes to research into the era and its fascination with illusions. Both exhibitions will be accompanied by international research, which will be incorporated into the first catalogue raisonné on Van Hoogstraten. The works from the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna have also undergone extensive technological research and illustrate the innovative approaches of the two painters.

At the beginning of the exhibition, visitors encounter the two artists in early self-portraits, which show their close stylistic connection. Even in this early work by the 18-year-old Van Hoogstarten, his talent can be recognized and the stylistic reference to his teacher is particularly clear. The show highlights his masterful use of light and color, which lends the works a three-dimensional and lively effect. A highlight in this respect is Rembrandt’s “The Holy Family with the Curtain” from Wilhelmshöhe Palace in Kassel. Van Hoogstraten’s treatise “Inleyding” is an important source for understanding Rembrandt’s art. At the same time, Rembrandt’s pupil also made an important contribution to the fame of his teacher.
The second room of the exhibition is dedicated to illusionistic effects, in which the artists masterfully play with framing, light and perspective to create true eye deceptions. When creating their works, both artists considered framing, positioning, coloring and lighting with regard to the place where they were to be hung. Rembrandt in particular mastered this and repeatedly played with the boundaries of the perceptible in his portraits. His pupil emulated him in this respect and even tried to outdo his master. Particularly impressive are the works in which the figures literally step out of the picture frame, such as Rembrandt’s “Girl in a Picture Frame” or Van Hoogstraten’s “Old Man in a Window”. Van Hoogstarten then makes trompe-l’œil paintings his signature.

Van Hoogstraten developed into a versatile artist who mastered various styles and responded to the preferences of his clients. In addition to still lifes, his broad oeuvre also includes genre paintings and allegories. His architectural perspectives are particularly impressive, including the “Inner Burgplatz in Vienna”, an illusionist masterpiece that brought him great success at the imperial court. The particular highlight of this work was the clock.
Rembrandt, who saw himself as an inquiring artist, also passed this view on to his pupil. Both showed a keen interest in the natural sciences, particularly optics, natural light and chamber light. Further knowledge is conveyed in cabinets in the exhibition. Impressions of the workshop and its practices are conveyed on the basis of the treatise and the results of research into the works of both artists are presented and their painting techniques are compared.
The last exhibition room is dedicated to history painting, which was considered the highest art form. Rembrandt’s works such as “Juno” from the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles illustrate his masterful use of light and theatricality. Van Hoogstraten’s “Triumph of Truth and Justice”, in which he deals with antiquity, can also be seen for the first time.
Illusionist art is still fascinating today, in an age of virtual realities and AI-generated images. An interactive room at the end of the exhibition invites the public to play with this timeless art form. A 3D reconstruction of Van Hoogstraten’s perspective box and other interactive elements build a bridge to the present day.

The exhibition “Rembrandt-Hoogstraten. Color and Illusion” was curated by Sabine Pénot, curator of Early Netherlandish and Dutch painting. It will take place from October 8, 2024 to January 12, 2025 at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

“Young woman in bed” © National Galleries of Scotland, photo: Antonia Reeve
“Girl in a picture frame” © The Royal Castle in Warsaw – Museum, photo: Andrzej Ring, Lech Sandzewicz
“Perspective view with a young man reading in a Renaissance palace” © Dordrechts Museum, photo: Bob Strik, Reprorek – all rights reserved
“Old Man in a Window” © KHM-Museumsverband
“Holy Family with the Curtain” © Hessen Kassel Heritage, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, photo: Arno Hensmanns
“The Inner Burgplatz in Vienna in a Fictitious Frame” © KHM-Museumsverband

02.01.2025

“We now have great rooms to go with our great collections”

Building design

After 16 years, the Staatsbibliothek Unter den Linden in Berlin has now been extensively renovated and extended. The Stuttgart-based firm hg merz was responsible for the project. After 16 years of lengthy conversion and renovation processes and 470 million euros spent, the Berlin State Library Unter den Linden opened digitally last Monday. This means that one of Berlin’s largest construction projects […]

After 16 years, the Staatsbibliothek Unter den Linden in Berlin has now been extensively renovated and extended. The Stuttgart-based firm hg merz was responsible for the project.

After 16 years of lengthy conversion and renovation processes and 470 million euros spent, the Berlin State Library Unter den Linden opened digitally last Monday. This marks the completion of one of Berlin’s largest construction projects. Founded in 1661, the research institution is considered one of the most important libraries in the world and is the largest academic library in the German-speaking world. Due to its importance, the monumental building has been adapted to the requirements of the 21st century since 2005 while it has remained in operation. Originally, the work on the 100,000 square meters of floor space was not due to be completed until 2012 and then 2016.

The research library, which was badly damaged during the Second World War and rebuilt during the GDR era, proved to be in greater need of renovation than originally assumed. For example, new supports had to be installed in the building to secure the old, listed concrete arches of the large dome. The overall concept for the general refurbishment and extension of Unter den Linden was the brainchild of Stuttgart star architect hg merz, who also modernized the State Opera diagonally opposite. In 2000, he won first prize in a Europe-wide competition. Individual construction tasks, such as the lighting concept or the material and color concept, were solved by hg merz in collaboration with artistic and technical offices.

The best-known feature of the old building, which has been renovated in line with its listed status, is the implanted glass cube of the central reading room, which opened in 2012. Now, after more than 70 years, it is once again accessible along the historical axis through the building complex via the entrance hall, fountain courtyard and the elegant main staircase and vestibule. The original spatial concept can now be experienced again. The reconstruction of the barrel vault in the main hall also restores the original cubature of the room.

In the reading room itself, the bright orange carpet has been renewed. The special reading rooms have also been redesigned and modernized: dark wooden shelves surround the books on the walls, with work areas in between whose linoleum table tops pick up the color of the carpet.
“We now have great rooms to complement our great collections,” says a delighted General Director Barbara Schneider-Kempf. The collections, which have grown over 360 years – including four pieces of world documentary heritage by Beethoven, Bach and Luther – are supplemented by around 100,000 media and extensive digital materials every year. The collection currently comprises more than 33 million different items, including 12 million books, autographs, printed music, magazines and newspapers as well as maps, globes and bequests.

The 620 workstations in the seven reading rooms currently have to remain empty. Due to the coronavirus, students and academics can only explore the redesigned library digitally for the time being. Important: From February onwards, lending operations will be restricted.

Speaking of libraries and reading material: discover the new library in Gundelsheim by Schlicht Lamprecht Architekten.

17.01.2025

Project

Duisburg Hochheide: City park instead of white giant

Building design

Park

This is what Duisburg Hochheide could soon look like. Source: KRAFT.RAUM

One white giant after another is falling. Two of the tower blocks of the former “Hochheide residential park” in Duisburg have already been demolished. A third will follow this year. The reason for this is that a park with various open spaces for meeting places, community, experiencing nature, sport and exercise is to be created instead. Read more about the new plans for Duisburg Hochheide here.

The Weiße Riesen Duisburg high-rise quarter is located in the Hochheide district of Duisburg. It will soon be replaced by a new city park. A recent decision by the Budget Committee in the German Bundestag has made this possible. This is because the federal government is investing almost 1.7 million euros in the new green space, known as the Hochheide City Park, through the “Adapting urban spaces to climate change” funding program.

The federal program thus shows its appreciation for the Stadtpark project. The planning is also regarded as a model for climate-friendly reuse of urban demolition sites. Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) sees the financial support for Duisburg Hochheide as an important sign: “The political decisions in Berlin often seem very abstract to citizens, despite their great significance for their everyday lives. This project is an example of how the federal government directly promotes and supports municipalities like Duisburg. In this way, we are not only improving the quality of life in the neighborhood, but also increasing trust in politics.”

“The demolition of the white giants is good,” says Duisburg Green Party MP Felix Banascak, “but it alone does not create a liveable public space.”

Parliamentary State Secretary Mahmut Özdemir (SPD) grew up between the White Giants in Duisburg Hochheide. He is also looking forward to the planning: “We have promised the people of Duisburg that we will use public money to eliminate the building sins of private developers. We are continuing along this path.”

The federal funding enables the planning of a multifunctional community park. It is to become a place of recreation, a meeting place and a sports area for citizens. In addition, Duisburg Hochheide will provide added social and ecological value. The resulting green space will create a better coexistence between people and (urban) nature. In this context, Mahmut Özdemir refers, for example, to the planned flood protection in the event of heavy rainfall.

The new open space is divided into three zones.

“Destination Sport”: An active area with a wide range of play and sports areas complements the lively district center in the west.
“Doing things together”: A community area is being created in the middle. Among other things, areas for gardening and open spaces for shared use by daycare centers are planned here.
“Destination Park”: A recreational area with meadows, a natural pond and environmental education facilities is being created in the east. This green neighborhood park also improves the ecology by linking adjacent biotopes. In addition, the connection to the cycle path on Husemanstraße creates a higher-level network.

The so-called Red Path will remain the main connection. It will be renovated and become part of a new path system. Electronic systems, such as the park lighting, will be powered by solar energy. The park is also designed to be barrier-free and attractive for young and old alike. In addition, only native trees and shrubs are planned. The emerging Hochheide city park is therefore an important impetus for development – both for Duisburg Hochheide and the neighboring urban areas. Until 2026, we can watch a new district center gradually grow here.