In this illustrated presentation, historian and Dutch native Henriette Rahusen will explore the historical context of the noteworthy presence of architecture in Dutch art. Drawing on her 13-year experience as researcher in the curatorial department of Dutch and Flemish old master paintings at the National Gallery of Art, Rahusen will use paintings, drawings, prints, cartography and old city descriptions to show how the built world influenced artistic expression. While acknowledging the role of architecture in the art of later centuries, Rahusen will primarily focus on the ways in which Dutch artists of the 17th century incorporated architecture in their work, and how it led to the visual concept of “Dutch Realism.” 

Presented by: 

Dr. Henriette Rahusen — Dept. of Northern European Paintings, National Gallery of Art, Washington

Henriette Rahusen is researcher / historian in the department of northern European paintings at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. She is the author of A Spirited Exchange: The wine and brandy trade between France and the Dutch Republic in its Atlantic framework, 1600-1650 (Leiden, 2007), as well as multiple articles, conference papers, and exhibition brochures. Rahusen is a contributing author to several collection- and exhibition catalogs, including Drawings for Paintings in the Age of Rembrandt, 2016. Her participation in the Dutch Cityscapes of the Golden Age exhibition in 2009 remains a career highlight.

Rahusen grew up in Deventer, a riverside trading town first established in the Middle Ages. Early and active preservation efforts have ensured the survival of many old structures in the city center, which in turn has shaped her eye and appreciation for beautiful buildings.

This program is part of Architecture Everywhere, a monthly series exploring how architecture comes to life in unexpected ways through other arts and humanities disciplines. We find buildings and spaces in surprising places: in books, on canvas, in film, and on paper—even in games! Join us each month as guest speakers present a visual talk, followed by creative exchange with the audience. Architecture Everywhere is organized by the Washington Architectural Foundation.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the presence of architecture in Dutch art
• Explain how the built world influenced artistic expression in Dutch painting
• Identify ways in which Dutch artists incorporated architecture into their paintings
• Summarize the visual concept of “Dutch Realism”