„Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson”, 1969 (1-50/106)

The happening was organized for the first time in Nuremberg in 1968 and was again repeated a year later, on January 24, 1969 in the Foksal Gallery. Here, just like in “Medusa Raft” and “Panoramic Sea Happening,” Kantor used a famous historical painting as a “ready-made object.” In this case it was Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. Among the participants that played medics were hippies who enriched the reconstruction with the elements of their own modern look – long hair and Windsor glasses.

Clothing was carefully dissected. Pockets were emptied and objects that were found in them (like handkerchiefs, photographs, pens, toothbrushes, caps, all of which were part of the “reality of the lowest rank”) were displayed for the public to see, forming a collage. Kantor referred to the idea of a human assemblage:

“These are the interesting contents and matter / of these intimate hiding places / and secret repositories, / this is the genuine, / authentic side of / individuality, / the forgotten leftovers, / the shameful litter, / these wrinkled and crumpled / pockets ! / ridiculous organs of / human / instincts / for preservation / and memory!”

(An excerpt of the score published as the Foksal Gallery’s leaflet in April 1969)


Pages: 1 2 3


Pages: 1 2 3