Vermeer Exhibition
The biggest art exhibition of 2018, the Vermeer Exhibition.
Thanks to the timed-entry ticket system, confusion has been kept to a minimum, and the show has been drawing a lot of buzz since it opened.
I have put together some notes about the catalogue for this exhibition.
It should be useful information for anyone considering buying it.
Vermeer Exhibition Official Catalogue
The admission fee for the Vermeer Exhibition is “2,500 yen” — higher than a typical art show. Because of that, quite a few visitors probably give up on the catalogue and settle for viewing alone. This article is my pitch to those visitors: try to make room in your budget for the catalogue anyway. Here are 7 main “reasons to buy” it.
7 Reasons to Recommend It
- A deluxe collector’s edition in a special slipcase!
- Commentary for every exhibited work
- An abundance of photographs — Vermeer’s works are shown through many close-up details!
- Vermeer’s exhibited works get 4 to 6 pages each. *Covers all 10 works shown across the Tokyo and Osaka venues
- Commentary on all 35 Vermeer works
- Rich reading material, including essays and commentary by researchers
- A map showing where all 35 Vermeer works are held
Let me introduce them one by one.
[1] A deluxe collector’s edition in a special slipcase!
The “Vermeer Exhibition Official Catalogue” is a deluxe collector’s edition packaged in a special slipcase.
Placed in its slipcase, it would look stylish just sitting on display in your home.
[2] Commentary for every exhibited work
Every single work shown at this Vermeer Exhibition is featured. Furthermore, each work is accompanied by a proper commentary — perfect for revisiting the show after your visit.
[3] An abundance of photographs — Vermeer’s works are shown through many close-up details!
There are simply tons of photographs. For each Vermeer work, the catalogue includes multiple images, including close-up details of parts of the painting.
[4] Vermeer’s exhibited works get 4 to 6 pages each. *Covers all 10 works shown across the Tokyo and Osaka venues
All 10 Vermeer works shown at either the Tokyo or Osaka venue are covered. On top of that, each one gets a minimum of 4 pages, and the most famous works get as many as 6 pages. It is packed with content — enough to grab any Vermeer fan by the heart!
[5] Commentary on all 35 Vermeer works
The catalogue also touches on works that were not shown at this exhibition. All 35 works currently accepted as Vermeer’s are included with images and commentary. A complete Vermeer set, in effect.
[6] Rich reading material, including essays and commentary by researchers
Beyond the photographs, the catalogue is packed with substantial content, including essays and reading material by world-class researchers.
A welcome section for anyone with an intellectual curiosity.
[7] Includes a map of where all 35 Vermeer works are held & a size-comparison chart
The final appendix has some interesting material. There is a “holdings map” showing which museum owns each of the 35 Vermeer works. And the piece that struck me the most was the “size comparison chart” — a summary that lets you check the size of every Vermeer work at a glance.
Summary
I have tried to lay out what makes the Vermeer Exhibition Official Catalogue worth having.
You can pick up the catalogue and page through it at the museum shop inside the venue. Have a look for yourself, then decide.
Rather than fighting the crowds at the museum, revisiting the show at home in comfort is a real pleasure in itself.
Details
Vermeer Exhibition Official Catalogue
Price: 3,000 yen (tax included)
232 pages
A4 wide format (235 × 310 mm)
[English edition]
Price: 5,500 yen (tax included)
200 pages
A4 wide format (225 × 300 mm)
