Heilige familie in Hollands interieur 1786 - 1808

Carl Guttenberg created this print titled 'Holy Family in a Dutch Interior' sometime between 1743 and 1790, now held in the Rijksmuseum. It's a fascinating example of how art institutions shape the reception of older art. The print reproduces a painting attributed to Rembrandt, depicting the Holy Family in a humble domestic setting. But what's key here is the institutional context: the print was made as part of a series documenting paintings in the collection of a prominent art collector, possibly to raise the profile of the collection. This tells us a lot about the art world of the time. In the 18th century, the idea of the 'Old Master' was being institutionalized. Art was increasingly seen as a product of national schools, like the 'Ecole Hollandaise' mentioned here, and collected by wealthy patrons. To understand this print fully, we might consult auction catalogs, collection inventories, and art criticism of the period. By examining such sources, we can better understand the social conditions that gave meaning to art.