Joe Fig: Contemplating Vermeer is the latest exhibition taking place at the New Britain Museum of American Art now until January 11.
In 2023, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam hosted an exhibition of Johannes Vermeer, showcasing 28 of the 35 masterpieces attributed to the Dutch painter. Drawing on his visit to this show, artist Joe Fig created a body of new paintings.
In these works, featured in Contemplating Vermeer, Fig not only pays homage to the 17th-century painter’s mastery of light, color and verisimilitude but also reflects on the aesthetic experience in the Rijksmuseum’s galleries.
“I enjoy capturing the historical nature of exhibitions. They are up for a limited time and very fleeting. My paintings allow me to share these art exhibitions with people who may not have the chance to see them otherwise,” Fig said.
Expanding on his decade-long Contemplation series, he captures his subjects, artworks, their viewers and their surroundings, exploring how people engage with or contemplate artworks in public spaces.
“I traveled to Amsterdam specifically for this project as this was the last major gathering of works by the master painter in my lifetime,” he said. “These works are considered among the most prized treasures of every museum collection and are rarely lent out, so this installment of my Contemplation series cements that moment in time.”
