Experiencing printmaking as a novelty and uncovering Joanna Hiffernan's secrets

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., will present two historically focused exhibitions beginning July 3. The first of these, The Renaissance in the North, focuses on the reproduction of the image that began with printmaking in the Renaissance. The museum took the opportunity of the new acquisition of 30 Renaissance works from Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland to put them on display as part of a printmaking event. The works demonstrate the enormous value that reinvention had in the late 15th and 16th centuries: prints were used for religious worship and to disseminate moralizing narratives, while some artists also used the technique for self-promotion. »In our image-filled world, it is hard to imagine the sense of possibility that the burgeoning art of printmaking presented in the 15th and 16th centuries. This exhibition takes us back to that moment, when artists of the Northern Renaissance developed innovative styles and techniques that captivated the public and collectors,« said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art.

The exhibits on display are all from the National Gallery's collection. Included are rare prints by artists such as Albrecht Dürer and Hendrick Goltzius, as well as those by printmaking contemporaries - including works the museum has not previously shown. From small allegorical compositions intended for private viewing to oversized, multi-panel woodcuts for urban decoration, the exhibition also sheds light on the immense creativity that this technique engendered. Those who are interested can view the historic works through November 27.

The second exhibition is titled The Woman in White: Joanna Hiffernan and James McNeill Whistler and focuses on the connection between the two namesake artists. James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) and Joanna Hiffernan (1839-1886) met in 1860 and immediately formed both a close professional and personal relationship. The National Gallery of Art presents around 60 works that emerged from their deep bond - and were created in collaboration. The exhibition brings together not only paintings, drawings, and prints, but also letters and documents that illuminate, above all, Hiffernan's role as a partner and as a building block in this creative process. Visitors will learn all about the iconic works, partnership, and secrets of Hiffernan's personality in The Woman in White: Joanna Hiffernan and James McNeill Whistler. The show runs through October 3.