Onvoltooid Verleden Tijd

In Onvoltooid Verleden Tijd, Kunstliefde brings together two centuries of Utrecht's art history. The exhibition reveals how intimately intertwined the artists' society has been with the city's artistic life since its founding in 1807. Historical works and archival reproductions from the history of Kunstliefde are shown alongside new work by current artist members, fostering encounters across generations and initiating visual dialogues between different eras.

The exhibition takes as its point of departure the Lexicon Genootschap Kunstliefde 1807–2007, compiled by Jaap Röell following more than twelve years of research. This three-volume publication documents 936 artist members and two centuries of Kunstliefde's history.

Yet Onvoltooid Verleden Tijd is more than a retrospective. Current artist members engage in dialogue with the past, examining how the legacy of Kunstliefde continues to resonate today. Around themes such as portraiture, landscape, and the city of Utrecht itself, new connections and visual rhymes emerge.

Visitors can also discover Utrecht's art history beyond the walls of Kunstliefde. A specially curated art route connects Kunstliefde to the Centraal Museum, guiding the public past works of art and sculptures across public space. In this way, the history of Kunstliefde unfolds through the city—and extends directly into the contemporary art of today.