Banat and Modern Romanian Art

The exhibition of Banat and Romanian Modern Art is a fascinating incursion into the evolution of art in Romania and locally over the last three centuries.

This exhibition, organized thematically, charts the evolution of anthropocentrism centered on the theme of portraiture, presenting the related themes approached by Romanian and Banat artists. The chronological aspect is emphasized by the transition from medieval to modern art, thus building a bridge between the Banat icon and 20th century art, which also links this exhibition to the Corneliu Baba collection.

The chosen themes explore the multiculturalism of the Banat region, placed in the context of the Habsburg Empire, as well as the contrasts between the philogerman bourgeoisie and the French-speaking aristocracy of the Old Kingdom.

The opening of the exhibition brings to the forefront the Baroque icon of exceptional value for our region. It represents a profound expression of ethnic Orthodox faith and offers a striking contrast to the portraits made at the end of the Enlightenment for local elites.

In the 19th century we mark the emergence of Impressionism in the representation of landscapes and the development of the visual identity of the Romanian people in the context of nation-building in this period, with significant influences from the traditions of the countryside.

We continue our foray into portraiture, reaching the apogee of 19th century academism. While the Banat middle class was developing within a central-European culture, the Romanian bohemian bourgeoisie adopted French culture, thus contributing to the development of somewhat distinct artistic preferences.

Another important theme is the informal portrait of women at the beginning of the 20th century, the first moment when we see a relaxation of the subject and can explore different perspectives on femininity at that time.

Still life is displayed in the collector’s cabinet, alongside a collection of early 20th-century furniture and decorative art.

The self-portrait is the closing point of the exhibition, presenting a form of portraiture that is on the one hand the most sincere, but at the same time the most objective approach to this theme.

Chromatics play a very important role in the exhibition scenography, the colors chosen being found in the period to which the paintings in each room belong (Prussian blue, viridian green, vermillion red, vanillin purple). Each room is painted in shades corresponding to the period from which the works come.

Pay close attention to the labels! They are bichrome and indicate whether the works belong to the Romanian art collection (gray label) or to the Banat collection (green label).