CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has enriched its collection through several key acquisitions over the past year, enhancing both research and educational opportunities.
Among the notable additions is “Samson and Delilah,” an oil painting by Dutch artist Willem Bartsius. This work not only complements the museum’s extensive collection of early modern European art but also introduces a rare example of history painting—an area in which the museum had few representations.
Jon Seydl, director of the museum, emphasized the strategic approach to these acquisitions. “When we invest in purchasing works of art or accepting a significant collection, we consider how these artworks can expand or transform our existing narratives. This can involve bolstering our current strengths or fostering a more inclusive and comprehensive storytelling approach,” he stated.
The Bartsius painting, acquired in the spring, is regarded as one of his finest works. Maureen Warren, curator of European and American art at KAM, highlighted the historical significance of the piece, which portrays the complex relationship between Samson and Delilah—figures that were popular among Dutch and Flemish artists in the 17th century. The character of Delilah was often depicted in a sexualized manner, yet the Bartsius painting presents her in a way that balances provocation with decency.
Warren noted, “Delilah is dressed in a striking satiny lemon-yellow gown, and the painting showcases the artist’s skill in rendering the fabric’s texture and the interplay of light and shadow. Her luxurious attire signifies wealth and social status.”
The artwork features exotic elements such as turbans, fur-lined cloaks, a parasol, and feathers from birds-of-paradise, reflecting the historical impacts of trade and colonialism, as well as the societal views on race and gender during that era. The painting is set to be displayed in early 2025.
Additionally, the museum showcases “Personnage,” a work by surrealist artist Wifredo Lam, as part of its “Art Since 1948” exhibition. Lam, who had Afro-Cuban and Chinese heritage, was deeply influenced by his experiences growing up in Cuba and his studies in Havana and Spain, where he was involved in the Spanish Civil War. Allyson Purpura, senior curator and curator of global African art at KAM, noted that Lam often depicted themes of motherhood, drawing inspiration from surrealism to process his personal grief following the loss of his wife and child to tuberculosis.
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