Exhibit | July 27, 2012

Antwerp drawings from Rubens to Panamarenko at Plantin-Moretus Museum

From 15 September 2012, the Museum Plantin-Moretus presents The Master’s Soul: Antwerp drawings from Rubens to Panamarenko. Eleven guest curators, including Dries Van Noten, Adriaan Raemdonck, illustrator-cartoonist Benoît and illustrator Kaatje Vermeire, among others, made a selection of the most beautiful drawings from the Print Room. The exhibition brings together a mix of exceptional drawings and sketches by old masters and contemporary talent.
 
The Plantin-Moretus Museum’s Print Room preserves more than 20,000 drawings and with its rich collection belongs among the world’s best. The collection of drawings is constructed around Antwerp artists from 1500 until today. This fall, the Print Room is exhibiting the most beautiful drawings from the collection.
 
Drawing is intimate. By means of a drawing, an artist puts onto paper a first impression, a brief pose, a snapshot, an emotion. It is a quick way to capture a stream of thought and to organize ideas. More than in any other medium, the artist exposes his soul in a drawing.
 
The museum called upon eleven guest curators to put together a collection of drawings by old masters and contemporary work from the Print Room. They made surprising thematic connections or opted for affinities in style, composition or line across the centuries.
 
Fashion designer Dries Van Noten, illustrator Kaatje Vermeire and gallery owner Adriaan Raemdonck made selections using their drawing experience. Specialists Ger Luijten, Professor Katlijne Vander Stighelen and curator Stefaan Hautekeete made a choice using their professional eye. A few local residents and volunteers with a heart for the museum also selected their favourite works. Thus did the exhibition grow to become a fascinating journey along islands of personal tastes and preferences.
 
Drawings are very sensitive to light, which is why they are rarely exhibited. The Master’s Soul is therefore a unique opportunity to admire the hidden collection of the museum’s Print Room. The exhibition includes, among others, studies, sketches and drawings from Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens, Jan Brueghel, Eugeen Van Mieghem, the Linnig family, Floris Jespers, Panamarenko, Jan Fabre and Sam Dillemans.
 
The Museum Plantin-Moretus
The Museum Plantin-Moretus is unique. It is the residential house of the Plantin-Moretus family which contains the publishing house - printing press. After 440 years, the studio of the most important 16th century printing press still looks like the compositors, type founders, printers and proofreaders could commence their working day at any moment. The oldest printing press in the world is there. They bear witness to the first industrial distribution of knowledge and image. The rich art collection is located in the historical residence, including paintings from family friend Peter Paul Rubens.
 
UNESCO World Heritage
Not only the residence and the printing establishment are on UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage list. The company and family archives are also considered by UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme Register as a unique piece of European history.
 
 
Practical info
The Master’s Soul: Antwerp drawings from Rubens to Panamarenko
·       From 15 September to 16 December 2012
·       From Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays
·       Entry fee: ??8 / ??6 / ??1 / ??0
Groups (+12 people) pay ??6 per person
Guide ??65 + ??5 reservation fee
·       Museum Plantin-Moretus
Vrijdagmarkt 22 - 2000 Antwerp??Tel.: +32 (0)3 221 14 50??museum.plantin.moretus@stad.antwerpen.be
??www.museumplantinmoretus.be
·       Accessibility: The ground floor is wheelchair accessible.
·       How to reach us: Tram: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 / Bus: 22, 25, 26
The museum is within walking distance of the Grote Markt and the Groenplaats and the bus parking lot on the Ernest Van Dijckkaai.
·       Museum Plantin-Moretus on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/museum.plantin.moretus.prentenkabinet