Imagine this: instead of going to a museum, you can now stroll through a square in Novi Sad and see 30 reproductions of masterpieces from the famous Madrid Prado Museum! Yes, you read that right. Alfonso Palasio, the deputy director of Prado, announced the “Prado Open-Air” exhibition featuring reproductions of 15 works from the Spanish school, including El Greco, Diego Velázquez, and Francisco Goya. But wait, there’s more! There are also works from the Italian school, like Titian and Tintoretto, as well as Flemish masters such as Boscaro, Bruegel, and Rubens. All in format 11, meaning these reproductions are quite large and impressive.
This exhibition is a golden chance for Novi Sad residents to enjoy world-class art without traveling to Madrid. But let’s be honest — can reproductions really replace the originals? And isn’t this just a cheap trick to satisfy cultural needs without real investment in museums and art institutions? While some marvel at the chance to see these paintings outdoors, others wonder where the real cultural investments are.
Still, you can’t deny the idea is interesting and will surely catch the eye of passersby and tourists. If you’re in Novi Sad, swing by Gallery Square and check out these reproductions. You might be surprised how accessible and fun art can be in the open air. And if you don’t like it, you can always joke that you saw “Prado on sale!”
What do you think about exhibitions like this? Are reproductions enough, or should we fight for real museums? Drop a comment — maybe together we’ll figure out how to keep culture more than just words on paper!
