Vermeer „Die Malkunst“ - Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien

Art of Painting” into an inspiration for modern artists. An icon of Western art, the painting increasingly became the
focus of attention for contemporary artists, whose work ranges from paying homage to ironic exaggeration to biting
criticism.
For their responses to Vermeer’s work contemporary artists used many different media – works on paper, paintings,
sculptures, animated films or movies – focusing either on the whole painting or on individual motives or details from
the composition. Our selection of works by modern and contemporary artists (e.g. Maria Lassnig, Salvador Dalí,
Saskia de Boer, George Deem, Gerhard Gutruf and Peter Greenaway) offers new and interesting viewpoints of the
original, and documents the far-reaching importance of Vermeer’s “The Art of Painting” and its influence on Modern
Art.
The timeless relevance of Vermeer’s „The Art of Painting“ is also illustrated by a project that focuses on art and
fashion. Some time ago, four artists were invited to create a version of the painter’s attire in the painting. The
resulting works help set the scene for the exhibition by creating both a formal entrance and an exit.
The exhibition catalogue features essays by experts and scholars from different disciplines who help cast light on
the painting’s numerous facets.
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