Océ supports research project Mauritshuis museum

THE HAGUE/VENLO, 21 February 2018 – The Mauritshuis museum in The Hague will take down its most famous painting, ‘Girl with the pearl earring’ by Johannes Vermeer, to study it for two weeks with new analytical tools.

The museum has asked Océ, a Canon company, to print a copy for visitors who still want to admire Vermeer’s masterpiece while the original is being vetted.

‘The Girl with the pearl earring’ will be analyzed in a glass-walled studio, in full view of visitors, to be set up in the ‘Gold Room.’ The original will be temporarily replaced by a reproduction of the painting, printed by Océ. This innovative printing company developed a proprietary technology of ‘elevated printing’ which is achieved by putting numerous layers of ink on a surface. This allows the copier to reproduce not just the features, but also the texture of the original painting. The brushstrokes are visible and tangible. The same technology was previously used to create convincing reproductions of Rembrandt’s Jewish Bride and various paintings by Vincent van Gogh.

“It is fantastic that this relief printing technology of Océ enables visitors to experience the layers of paint and brushstrokes so vividly”, says Emilie Gordenker, director of the Mauritshuis.

Mauritshuis is not the only museum where you can see Océ’s reproductions. Previously Océ supported the Munch museum in Oslo and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Besides research these tactile art interpretations are also used for education projects and to make art accessible for the blind and visually impaired people who can now touch the paintings.

Photo: Johannes Vermeer, Girl with a Pearl Earring, c. 1665, part of collection of Mauritshuis, The Hague