Art played a pivotal role during the dawn of European natural history in the 16th and 17th centuries. Advancements in scientific technology, trade, and colonial expansion allowed naturalists to study previously unknown and overlooked insects, animals, and other beestjes: “little beasts” in Dutch. Artists helped deepen knowledge of these creatures with detailed and playful works that were shared with naturalists and avidly collected.
“Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World,” an exhibition on view May 18 through November 2 at the National Gallery of Art and developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History—features nearly 75 paintings, prints, and drawings in a unique presentation alongside specimens and taxidermy. The installation features exquisite watercolors by miniaturist Joris Hoefnagel—rarely exhibited treasures of the National Gallery collection—that exemplify the interconnectedness of the period’s artists, naturalists, and collectors. It also examines series of fine prints that multiplied and shared zoological images with a widening audience of enthusiasts. Delightful paintings by Jan van Kessel illustrate the continued appeal of meticulously rendered creatures for 17th-century collectors.
The exhibition concludes with a film by contemporary artist Dario Robleto that explores the intersection of art and science today. Join Robleto and curators Alexandra Libby, Brooks Rich, and Stacey Sell for an overview of this fascinating exhibition and a closer look at the artists and ideas that it highlights.
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