Animals in print

In 2020, Villa Vauban was able to acquire an extraordinary collection of over 1,000 prints from the 16th to the early 20th century. In the future, a series of small-format exhibitions will present various thematic ensembles from it. The first of these cabinet exhibitions is dedicated to animal depictions in graphic art from the 17th to the 19th century.

Driven by a scientific interest in the animal world, the artists of the Dutch “Golden Age” tried to depict animals as lifelike as possible. In the exhibition, numerous prints by Paulus Potter (1625–1654), Nicolaes Visscher I (1618–1679), Karel Dujardin (1622–1678) and Adriaen van de Velde (1636–1672), among others, mainly show domestic animals: cattle, horses, goats and sheep. Works by Pieter Gerardus van Os (1776–1839) illustrate the extent to which the 17th century influenced the depictions of animals by later engravers.

The project which aims to make the collection accessible is supported by the Fondation du Pélican (Mie et Pierre Hippert-Faber), foundation entrusted to the Fondation de Luxembourg. This funding will enable various forms of artistic and cultural mediation around the topic of engravings as well as the restoration and documentation of the print collection.