Temporary exhibition at the Historical and Geographical Institute also marks the reopening of the visitor circuit, following the completion of the first phase of the renovation project.
Starting August 30, the Brazilian Historical and Geographical Institute (IHGB) will open the temporary exhibition “Eckhout: Transits of the Gaze” to the public, with scheduling also beginning on that date. Visitors will have the opportunity to view copies of paintings commissioned by Emperor Dom Pedro II from the Danish painter Niels A. Lützen. These are the famous portraits of indigenous people painted by Albert Eckhout during the 17th-century Dutch occupation of Brazil’s Northeast. The exhibition challenges the colonial gaze by placing these historical paintings in dialogue with contemporary works by the Pará-based artist Nay Jinknss. Dom Pedro II traveled to Denmark to see the famous portraits of indigenous Brazilians discussed by the renowned German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt in his book Cosmos, one of the most popular science books of the 19th century. He subsequently decided to commission smaller versions of the portraits to donate to the IHGB, aiming to bring these images to the public in Brazil. The opening for invited guests will take place on August 29.
