Art history would look very different if no one ever copied each other. From the Middle Ages until at least the 20th century, the imitation of earlier work was regarded not as plagiarism but as an essential part of artistic training. Often the copies were translated into a different medium – artists would make engravings of paintings, for example – and even when the medium was the same, imitation allowed more imaginative artists to find ways of asserting a personal touch. This exhibition celebrates the art of copying through the centuries, especially as it was practised in Norway: drawing heavily on the Nasjonalmuseet’s collection, the show brings together copies by artists including Hans Johan Frederik Berg, Hans Heyerdahl and Ludvig Karsten (16 January–7 June). The curators present paintings, prints, sculptures and drawings as well as more recherché material such as applications for permits to copy works at the Nasjonalmuseet.
Find out more from the Nasjonalmuseet’s website.
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