For Immediate Release
November 29, 2023

CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS OPENING LECTURE FOR 50 YEARS AND FORWARD EXHIBITIONS

Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Saturday, December 16, Manton Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs Anne Leonard introduces the pair of exhibitions 50 Years and Forward: Works on Paper Acquisitions in the Clark Center lower level (opening on the same day, December 16) and 50 Years and Forward: British Prints and Drawings Acquisitions in the Eugene V. Thaw Gallery for Works on Paper. These exhibitions mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Manton Research Center with a choice selection of prints, drawings, and photographs acquired since 1973. The lecture is presented at 11 am in the Clark’s auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.

Featuring recent acquisitions and other works never shown at the Clark before, 50 Years and Forward: Works on Paper Acquisitions celebrates not only the growth of classic areas of strength but also the emergence of fresh collecting territories. Along with familiar works by Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Goya, Édouard Manet, and Mary Cassatt, 50 Years and Forward highlights lesser-known parts of the collection, including early twentieth-century art, photographs by Berenice Abbott and Doris Ulmann, and important images of and by Black Americans. With each passing year and decade, the museum reaffirms its commitment to the storied collecting mission of its founders Sterling and Francine Clark, modifying and expanding it to meet the needs of a new era. 

50 Years and Forward: British Prints and Drawings Acquisitions offers a richly varied selection of works on paper acquired since the Manton Research Center opened in 1973. Highlights include lively figure drawings by Thomas Rowlandson; vibrant watercolor landscapes by J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Girtin, and H.W. Williams; heartfelt interpretations of nature by John Constable and Samuel Palmer; vivid portrait heads by Thomas Frye and Evelyn de Morgan; and an astonishing watercolor interior by Anna Alma-Tadema. This abundant display showcases how the Clark continues, in the wake of the Manton gift, to enrich the British works on paper collection—ensuring that it grows in strength and variety far into the future.

Free. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.

These exhibitions are organized by the Clark Art Institute and curated by Anne Leonard, Manton Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of some 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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