Sabine Pénot

Published to accompany the once-in-a-lifetime Rembrandt exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. Rembrandt’s powerful art left a lasting impression on his gifted pupil Samuel van Hoogstraten. The fascinating interplay between Rembrandt and Hoogstraten is on display in a unique way – you have never seen Rembrandt like this before. This book delves into the depths of colour and illusion, exploring the powerful techniques employed by the master artists Rembrandt and Hoogstraten to create virtual realities on canvas. Through insightful analysis and breathtaking visuals, this in-depth examination reveals the secrets behind the magnificent illusionist effects that have captivated audiences for centuries. Rembrandt-Hoogstraten offers a profound exploration of the transformative power of colour and technique in the hands of two of history's greatest painters. Image © The Royal Caste, Warsaw – photo Andrzej Ring, Lech Sandzewicz

In 2019, it will be 450 years since the death of Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1526/28-1569). To mark this anniversary, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is organising the first ever retrospective of Bruegel's work, while The World of Bruegel will be shown in the Bokrijk Open-Air Museum. The two institutions are joining forces to bring Bruegel's masterpiece The Fight Between Carnival and Lent (1559) to life. An important key in this respect are the numerous everyday objects that are depicted in the painting. In collaboration with the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (Rotterdam) and the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam), the props that Bruegel depicted have been examined and interpreted from a contemporary perspective. The authors allow the objects to speak for themselves, preceded by an introductory essay by curator Sabine Penot of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Just as Bruegel's paintings were 'conversation pieces' in their day, intended to trigger a discussion between guests during dinners, this book presents a three-way conversation about The Fight Between Carnival and Lent through Bruegel realia, in which art history (Katrien Lichtert), historical design (Alexandra van Dongen and Lucinda Timmermans) and literature (Abdelkader Benali) enter into a dialogue. In A Conversation Piece, the authors reveal the humour, symbolism, imagery and hidden stories behind the everyday objects in the painting. The exhibition Pieter Bruegel the Elder will run from 2 October 2018 to 13 January 2019 in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, and the exhibition The World of Bruegel will be on display in the Bokrijk Open-Air Museum from 6 April to 20 October 2019.

On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of the death of Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c.1525/30–1569) the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is mounting the first-ever large monograph exhibition of the leading Netherlandish painter of the 16th century. Only around forty paintings by Bruegel have survived, which is why museums and private collectors are right to count Bruegel’s paintings among their most precious and fragile holdings. Bruegel’s popularity continues to be informed by his often socio-critical but always varied, entertaining and powerful compositions. They invite the spectator both to begin an artistic discourse with the work and to reflect on the complexity of its content. This spectacular catalogue invites readers to immerse themselves in the world of the Netherlandish master. The results of recent research on materials and techniques allow us to focus on Bruegel’s creative process: his perfect handling and execution, his virtuoso use of colour and his draughtsmanship – these are some of the many mysteries of this great artist. Bruegel’s inventions and stories create artworks with a timeless power.