Affinities

Imagine looking at two different works of art hung next to each other in a gallery. The first is an eighteenth-century double portrait of a young married couple; the second is a contemporary photograph of two African American women in elaborate hats. How does each work become more meaningful when compared to the other? Side-by-side comparisons of paintings, prints, and photographs spark ideas about their meanings, and students of art history often use a “compare and contrast” method to analyze works of art. In this small installation of works from Reynolda’s collection, including works by artists such as Charles Willson Peale, Grant Wood, and William Michael Harnett, visitors are invited to reflect on unexpected and surprising pairings. The innovative exhibition design includes comfortable seating for contemplation, journals for sharing reflections or sketches, and questions designed to draw out visitors’ own reactions, memories, and personal stories.