Ackland brings collection of prints from van Gogh, Rembrandt and more to the public

The Ackland Art Museum, UNC’s on-campus epicenter for curated art of all kinds, is currently displaying a new exhibit — Dürer to Matisse: 400 Years of European Prints.

Featuring 97 prints from the late fifteenth century to the mid-twentieth century, the exhibit contains work from artists like Rembrandt van Rijn, Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and many more. 

Dana Cowen, the Ackland’s Sheldon Peck Curator for European and American Art before 1950, assembled the collection herself, with the hopes of showcasing the often overlooked art practice of printmaking. From etchings and lithographs, to mezzotints and woodcuts, each print is as intricate and insightful of history as the last. 

“It really is a great opportunity to come see works that aren't on view all the time,” Cowen said. “Because works on paper are light sensitive and we can only put them out for certain amounts of time.” 

The Ackland, according to Cowen, has one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of paper artworks in North Carolina, with around 5,500 prints. Picking from this vast collection, she said, was a challenge. 

To fix this, Cowen chose equal amounts from each century and narrowed them by quality and condition, wanting a diverse selection for viewers and students alike.

“It did come down to personal preference on my part, you know,” Cowen said. “I love these works. I wanted to share them with people.”

A great majority of the prints and artwork are never before exhibited, and have been kept in storage by the Ackland in order to preserve them. Yet, some of the work still needed rehabilitation, having been damaged both by old age and natural elements over time.

Grace White, Paper Conservator at The Ackland, worked with Cowen to restore the prints as close as possible to their original state. 

“Dana and I talked it over and decided to treat six or seven of the prints in the show,” White said. “A couple of them had very minor issues, like discoloration that could be treated.”

Others, though, needed a little more TLC. One of them, known as The Large Cat by Cornelis Visscher, was the most time-consuming restoration according to White. It is also the cover art for the exhibit, which can be seen on the front side of The Ackland and on their website.

Overall, she said she’s excited for the exhibit to come together and be shared with visitors.

“All of the artworks — it just looks like a treasure room. It’s beautiful,” White said.

Each print is placed against a dark wall with its own spotlight, paired with a label that gives viewers history and details on the work. 

Many of these prints have been with The Ackland since its opening in 1958, according to The Ackland’s Interim Director, Carolyn Allmendinger.

“It's sort of a convenient way to talk about how the print collection has been part of the museum since the beginning,” Allmendinger said. “And it continues to be a really important part of the collection.”

Allmendinger has taught students with the prints in previous classes, but never thought she would see them on display for the public eye, due to their sensitivity to light and damage.

Not only is she excited for viewers to have the opportunity to see the art, but to also have a glimpse into the process artists took in making prints, and the intricacies that go along with it.

“Each of the individual prints shows somebody solving visual problems,” Allmendinger said. “Figuring out: 'how do I make this image work the way I want to with the print media?'”

The exhibit even includes miniature magnifiers viewers can use to get up close and personal with each pieces’ components, encouraging people to close the distance between them and the artwork. This sets the exhibit apart, removing the common sense of intimidation or frigidity that can occur when it comes to viewing art in museums. 

“Viewing prints is such an experience where it demands close looking and repeat viewing,” Cowen said. “I want visitors to feel very comfortable and relaxed in the space, so that they take their time and they appreciate the details.”

The exhibit will be up from Sept. 27, 2024 to Jan. 5, 2025. More information can be found on The Ackland's website. 

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