Rembrandt Reframed

This exhibition presents 22 prints by Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn (b. Leiden, 1609–d. Amsterdam, 1699) from the collection of the Georgia Museum of Art. One of the most significant European artists active in the 17^th century, Rembrandt pushed the boundaries of printmaking far beyond artists before him. He used the etching needle as he did a paintbrush, seeing the possibilities for creating tone, depth, and texture. The prints presented in Rembrandt Reframed were produced posthumously and speak to the enduring interest in the artist’s work.  Following Rembrandt’s death, the French dealer Pierre-François Basan purchased a collection of Rembrandt’s copper plates and in 1786 proceeded to release the first posthumous prints by the Dutch artist. Shortly thereafter, the plates came into the possession of Basan’s son Henri Louis who continued to release prints from the plates until approximately 1808. Basan’s prints are appreciated for their high quality.

This exhibition brings together the work of three contemporary artists with distinctly different practices. Reframed in the context of Rembrandt’s prints Charles Humes, Jr., Jennifer Printz, and Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz challenge us to consider the ways in which they share approaches but also depart dramatically in technique and concept from the Old Master. 

Charles Humes, Jr. (b.1952) melds religious imagery and his own lived experiences in paintings and prints. This exhibition includes a series of Humes’ etchings. Humes’ body of work includes religious imagery, as did that of Rembrandt. As opposed to creating a synthesis of religious experience and contemporary life, Rembrandt tended to focus on illustrating scenes from the Bible’s Old and New Testaments.

Jennifer Printz (b.1975) incorporates drawing, printmaking, and photography in her professional practice. In a suite of etchings created specifically for this exhibition, Printz expands on the possibilities of the medium. Rembrandt is well known for his attention to detail and intricate lines. While Rembrandt and Printz share a technical rigor, Printz’s abstract etchings expand traditional representation and reflect the unseen structures of the universe.

Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz (b.1973) intertwines performance and portraiture, much as Rembrandt often donned costumes from decades prior, presenting himself as a character in his portraits. While Rembrandt created portraits that cast individuals in archetypal roles, he also rendered portraits of family members including his mother and wife, Saskia. Family is paramount to Raimundi-Ortiz. This exhibition includes portraits of Raimundi-Ortiz’s son.

We are grateful to the Georgia Art Museum for their generous loan of these prints. Our thanks go to members of the Frost Art Museum for their support of this exhibition. The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU receives ongoing support from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida.

Rembrandt van Rijn, Dutch, 1606–1669, Landscape with a Cow [detail], ca. 1650, Etching and drypoint on paper