Rembrandt and Barocci, "Incising Light": exhibition at the Museo Civico

Rembrandt and Barocci, "Incising Light" at the Museo Civico di Bari

The exhibition "Rembrandt and Barocci. Incising Light" presents a conversation between the graphic work of two masters of printmaking, highlighting how each artist translates light into line. Curated by art historian Luca Baroni, the show is hosted at the Museo Civico di Bari and runs until 3 May 2026.

The display is organized into six thematic sections that guide visitors through shared themes and stylistic differences:

• Spiritual visions – prints exploring sacred themes and devotion;
• Popular figures – portraits and scenes of everyday life;
• Self-portraits – the artist's gaze upon themselves;
• Domestic interiors – spaces lit by natural sources;
• The value of the mark – comparative printmaking techniques;
• Compositions and light – experiments in chiaroscuro and depth.

Rembrandt, a central figure of 17th-century Dutch art, is renowned not only for his paintings but also for roughly three hundred graphic plates that combine etching, drypoint and burin. These methods create striking contrasts and a vivid handling of light and shadow.

Federico Barocci, a Mannerist artist from Urbino, contributes prints marked by elegance and a delicate sensitivity that translates into the engraved line. The exhibition highlights how light and shadow operate as a shared visual language despite divergent aesthetic results.

Visitors will find the show a valuable opportunity to study printmaking techniques up close and to appreciate the different ways light can be captured on paper.

Practical information:

• Venue: Museo Civico di Bari
• Dates: until 3 May 2026
• Curator: Luca Baroni
• Visitor tips: check the museum's official channels for opening hours and access rules; the exhibition is recommended for students, collectors and art history enthusiasts.

An exhibition that blends historical insight and visual enjoyment, perfect for understanding how printmaking can render light in singular and meaningful ways.