Rubens in Repeat - The Logic of the Copy in Coloni al Latin America

This book explores how colonial artists in Latin America used prints by Peter Paul Rubens to create new frameworks for artistic creativity, challenging traditional notions of artistic authorship. It focuses on the viceroyalties of New Spain and Peru in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and argues that the use of European prints was essential to the framework in which colonial artists forged ideas about what it meant to be a creator.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2021
Publisher: Getty Trust Publications

This captivating book delves into the captivating reception of prints created by the renowned Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens in Latin America. It explores how colonial artists embraced these designs, employing them to produce a diverse range of artworks, thus forging innovative frameworks for artistic creativity. While Peter Paul Rubens himself never ventured across the Atlantic, his profound influence on colonial Latin America was undeniable. Prints inspired by his creations were regularly dispatched from Europe to the Spanish Americas, where artists eagerly incorporated them into their artistic endeavors. Rubens in Repeat stands as the first comprehensive exploration of this transatlantic phenomenon, despite its widespread recognition as one of the most significant forces shaping the artistic landscapes of the region.

Traditionally, the act of copying, particularly in colonial contexts, has been associated with negative connotations, discouraging a thorough examination of this art form. However, by analyzing the interpretation of printed sources and re-contextualizing the resulting works within the broader discourse of the period and their original display spaces, a fresh and critical reassessment of this vast category of art produced in colonial Latin America emerges. This book adopts a novel approach to the paradigms of artistic authorship that emerged alongside these intricate creative responses, specifically focusing on the viceroyalties of New Spain and Peru in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It compellingly argues that the utilization of European prints played a vital role in shaping the very framework within which colonial artists developed their ideas about what it meant to be a creator.

Through meticulous research and analysis, this book sheds light on the intricate ways in which Rubens' prints influenced the artistic practices of colonial Latin America. It reveals how artists adapted and reinterpreted these designs, incorporating them into their own works while also infusing them with local cultural elements. The book explores the diverse range of objects created, including paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and decorative arts, all of which bear the imprint of Rubens' influence. It also delves into the social and cultural contexts in which these artworks were produced, highlighting the complex interplay between European colonialism, local traditions, and the evolving artistic expressions of the time.

Moreover, Rubens in Repeat offers a valuable insight into the broader artistic landscape of colonial Latin America. It situates the use of European prints within the broader context of European artistic traditions and their influence on the development of modern art. The book explores the ways in which colonial artists borrowed and adapted techniques, styles, and themes from European masters, while also incorporating their own unique perspectives and experiences. It sheds light on the complex negotiations and exchanges that took place, as artists sought to navigate the boundaries between tradition and innovation, while also striving to establish their own artistic identities within the colonial context.

In conclusion, Rubens in Repeat is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the reception of prints created by Peter Paul Rubens in Latin America. Through its comprehensive exploration of the transatlantic phenomenon, the book challenges traditional notions of copying and artistic authorship. It demonstrates how colonial artists embraced these designs, employing them to produce a diverse range of artworks that shaped the artistic landscapes of the region. By re-contextualizing the resulting works within the broader discourse of the period and their original display spaces, the book provides a critical reassessment of this vast category of art produced in colonial Latin America. This book is a must-read for scholars, artists, and anyone interested in the rich and complex history of art in the Americas.

Weight: 1080g
Dimension: 185 x 261 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781606066867