Exhibition at the Suțu Palace
Anton Kaindl. Engravings of places from Bucharest
In 1921, at the invitation of the Royal Family, Anton Kaindl arrived in Romania, and will prove to be one of the most impressive engravers of the twentieth century.
Very little is known about the journey of the painter and engraver Anton Kaindl (1872-1951) until his arrival in Romania; it is certain that he lived in Germany. But, once he arrived in our space, he did not leave anymore, and his unique works made here preserve and bring before our eyes important landmarks of the religious and secular architecture of the Romanian space. Anton Kaindl traveled the whole country and his works exemplify his travels.
In the patrimony of the Bucharest Municipality, within the Printed and imprints collection, there is an Album of engravings made by the artist in aquaforte technique and depicting historical monuments from the Capital and the country. The 218 works render in a detailed artwork churches, hermitages, monastic ensembles from the region of Oltenia, Moldova, Maramureș, Muntenia, Bistrița, crucifixes from the region of Oltenia, Bistrița, Muntenia, Transylvania, the famous Oltenia “cule” – houses with traditional architecture, and mills from the rural area of Transylvania, Oltenia, Muntenia and Bistrița. Along with these works in large numbers, Bran Castle, Banloc Castle and Neamț Fortress in Moldova are also presented. The album is completed by two self-portraits and an engraving with decoration, which is dedicated to the presentation of the album, namely: “TO MY FRIENDS / 30 YEARS – IN ROMANIA / ANTON KAINDL”.
In Bucharest the author made 16 works for this album; these are: Cathedral and Palace of the Patriarchate, Church of Bucur, Bell Tower of the Udricani Church, Church of St. Anton, Bărăția Church (although titled as such, the work does not present Bărăția church; another building appears in the image), Văcărești Street (1921), Fundenii Doamnei Church, Antim Monastery, Radu-Vodă Monastery, Plumbuita Monastery, Văcărești Monastery (2 works), Shepherds at Plumbuita, Apostolic Nunciature Building, French Embassy Building, Deposits House Building.
The engravings in the album are generally signed with the monogram AK, some are unsigned, and the dating was sporadic.
Returning to the Bucharest space approached in engravings by Anton Kaindl, the temporary exhibition will include the 16 engravings with different places in Bucharest mentioned above, the two self-portraits and the engraving dedicated to the presentation of the jubilee album.
Magdalena Chitilă, museographer