ISU students curate exhibition of Renaissance and Baroque prints

NORMAL, Ill. – Students at the Illinois State University Wonsook Kim School of Fine Arts produced the exhibit of original printed images from the Renaissance and Baroque time period.

The works primarily books and prints that were produced from 1400-1700 are now on display at Milner Library.

Assistant Professor of Art History at ISU and leading professor of the curation, Dr. Saskia Beranek, spoke on how the exhibition’s conception came to be.

“About three years ago right before the pandemic I suggested buying works on paper from the premodern and modern period,” stated Dr. Beranek. “People working with the library were excited about the idea, they saw it as a new direction to grow the library.”

Accumulating the prints necessary to fulfill an exhibit was a painstaking task, but through the keen eye and determination of Dr. Beranek she was able to fulfill her goal of piecing together enough prints for the exhibit.

“We went looking for works within a certain price range.  You can buy Renaissance prints for $50, but there are some that go for multiple millions. However, we were able to get a pretty decent set of prints with the amount of money we could find in bits and pieces.  I’ve been looking at print auction websites and print sales to see what kind of images would be interesting and relevant,” Dr. Beranek said.

While hours upon hours of time and effort have been put into the curation of the exhibition, there still remains work to be done.

“This is also going to be an ongoing project.  We’re going to continue to accumulate these works, and the exhibition will continue to evolve,” stated Dr. Beranek.

Masters students taking Dr. Beranek’s Renaissance and Baroque Printmaking responded to the prints with their own original artworks.

“One student had been researching a print which was made as a reproductive print, and she did a project which reproduced one of her favorite prints,” stated Dr. Beranek. “Another student made an original print that was inspired by the mythology of renaissance prints.  They were trying to present what they saw with a new technique. Practicing artists do historical research all the time, and I thought this was a fun way to bring together Renaissance art and active artistic practice.”

While the exhibit will continue to develop, Dr. Beranek remains determined to help the university’s print collection grown. 

“For me the main highlight is a work that we just bought.  The class was asked to look at some print auction websites and make suggestions about things we should buy for the collection,” stated Dr. Beranek. “I took some suggestions and purchased a print by the late 17th century printmaker Maria Sibylla Merian, and she was a transformational figure in the history of science and botanical Illustration.  The fact that she was a woman and a printmaker in the 1600s was a big deal.”

The exhibit will be on display until March 15, on the second floor of Milner Library in the Benway Student Art Exhibition Area