Investigating the Development and Reception of an Art Exhibition on the Theme of Early Modern Representations of Love

Abstract

Can the modern-day art gallery visitor access the historical emotional meaning of what is viewed? The present investigation explored Love: Art of Emotions, an exhibition curated and shown at the National Gallery of Victoria April–June 2017, which displayed a variety of artworks from the early modern period. The current article aimed to investigate both curator intentions and visitor reception of the exhibition. The project leader and the exhibition curator were interviewed about the aims of the exhibition and the steps implemented to realize its intentions. Materials such as the catalogue and exhibition labels were also subjected to a textual analysis to deepen understanding of the curatoria..