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Hello, I'm Anthony van Dyck

Interested in culture and visual arts?

Rubens is a prominent figure on social media

Not only was Rubens a driven artist, he was also CEO of a successful business. Marketing managers weren't around yet in the 17th century, which made showcasing and selling paintings to a wider audience not as straightforward.

Antwerp

My master posted his 'status updates' for his 'followers' by distributing etchings amongst other things. Specialists would cut his finished paintings on a metal plate to then print and distribute them. As vital as it is in this day and age, Rubens spent quite some time sourcing external specialists to create quality 'prints' for his 'social media'. Sometimes prints wouldn't be created until a long time after the painting was completed. Quality advertising campaigns even paid off in the 17th century. There are an impressive 2,500 paintings by Rubens and his studio.

Rubens inspires the Year of Baroque 2018 in Antwerp

I would love to show you around. But we are not only visiting my hometown. If you want to explore Rubens and the spirit of his times, the whole of Flanders has something on offer.

Vandyck_001 - plaatsing zelfportret Rubens

Rubens - © Rubenshuis - Sigrid Spinnox-2 2

Have you fallen under the spell of the Baroque period?

I'd love to tell you more about it.

Must read

Peter Paul Rubens painted with blood

According to curator Nico Van Hout, Rubens was the Quentin Tarantino of his time. Just like the controversial, but genius director and his nouvelle-violence style, Rubens cultivated violence in his early work. He specialised in horror scenes with a moral. The painter worked in a very cinematographic way and was a master of colour, composition and painting techniques. His characters look lifelike, and the skin of his figures bloodied.

Antwerp

Must do

Antwerp, the Silicon Valley of the 16th century

Rubens worked and lived in Antwerp. Nowhere else in the world can you feel the greatness of Rubens as well as here. The city already played an important role in the 16th century. It was like Silicon Valley is today, a place where knowledge, craftsmanship and technology come together.

Antwerp

Must do

Want to experience a real Rubens? Then come to Flanders

If you want to make sure you are seeing a 100% "real" Rubens, you should seek out his small oil sketches.

Antwerp

Baroque is not an artistic movement, it's a way of life.

Ask the other guides as well.

Enjoy eating and drinking in an arty atmosphere?

Love architectural gems from old and contemporary masters?

Follow Nicolaas

Feel like doing some culturally responsible shopping and admiring some diamonds?

Your guide Bacchus

Enjoy eating and drinking in an arty atmosphere?

Your guide Nicolaas

Love architectural gems from old and contemporary masters?

Your guide Venus

Feel like doing some culturally responsible shopping and admiring some diamonds?