Rebecca Quaytman's Exhibition Reveals Hidden Layer in Paul Klee's Angelus Novus
Rebecca Quaytman's exhibition "חקק Chapter 29" is on display at Miguel Abreu Gallery in New York from October 7 to November 15, 2015. During a visit to the Israel Museum in 2013, Quaytman uncovered that Paul Klee's 1920 artwork Angelus Novus was affixed to an earlier engraving from the 1520s, marked with the initials LC. This finding adds complexity to Walter Benjamin's 1940 essay "Theses on the Philosophy of History," which analyzed the painting. Benjamin possessed the piece before it transitioned to Gershom Scholem and subsequently to the museum. Quaytman has produced painted interpretations of Benjamin's insights, such as "Preview of Angelus Novus" (2014) and "O Tópico, Chapter 27" (2014). The title "Haqaq" hints at connections to Lucas Cranach and Martin Luther. A detailed account of her findings will be included in her upcoming catalogue.
Key facts
- Rebecca Quaytman's exhibition ran October 7 to November 15, 2015 at Miguel Abreu Gallery in New York
- Quaytman discovered in 2013 that Paul Klee's 1920 painting Angelus Novus was glued over a 1520s engraving with initials LC
- Walter Benjamin's 1940 essay "Theses on the Philosophy of History" used Angelus Novus to discuss Marxist historical progress
- Benjamin owned the painting before it passed to Gershom Scholem and entered the Israel Museum in Jerusalem
- Quaytman created painted variations including "Preview of Angelus Novus" (2014) and "O Tópico, Chapter 27" (2014)
- The exhibition title "Haqaq" means engraved or inscribed in Hebrew
- Quaytman is the daughter of abstract painter Harvey Quaytman
- A full report on Quaytman's discovery will be published in her catalogue
Entities
Artists
- Rebecca Quaytman
- Paul Klee
- Walter Benjamin
- Gershom Scholem
- Lucas Cranach
- Martin Luther
- Harvey Quaytman
- Picasso
- Poussin
- Leo Steinberg
Institutions
- Miguel Abreu Gallery
- Israel Museum
- David McKee Gallery
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Jerusalem
- Israel