Back and Forth
Back and Forth: Rozeal., Titian, Cezanne brings four paintings together to explore how artists borrow from, reinterpret, and contribute to art history. Spanning six centuries and multiple cultures, the exhibition reveals visual connections between works that were created in very different times and places.
The exhibition pairs Rozeal.’s contemporary painting with works by Titian and Paul Cezanne. Rozeal.’s *afro.died, T.* is considered alongside Titian’s *Venus with a Mirror*, while Cezanne’s *Boy in a Red Waistcoat* is connected to Titian’s *Ranuccio Farnese*. The presentation emphasizes that art history is not linear: artists continually mix and remix earlier ideas, sometimes creating unexpected relationships across time.
When: April 26, 2025, through January 3, 2027
Venue: National Gallery of Art, West Building Main Floor, Gallery M11
Tickets: Free admission; passes are not required
Artworks: Titian’s *Venus with a Mirror* (circa 1555); Rozeal.’s *afro.died, T.* (2011); Paul Cezanne’s *Boy in a Red Waistcoat* (1888–1890); and Titian’s *Ranuccio Farnese* (1541–1542)
Artists: Rozeal., formerly known as iona rozeal brown; Titian; and Paul Cezanne
Related Content: An interactive article, “Four Paintings Speak to Each Other Across Space and Time,” examines how Titian, Cezanne, and Rozeal. remix and reinterpret conventions for painting people.
Curators: Molly Donovan, curator of contemporary art and acting head of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art; Eve Straussman-Pflanzer, curator and head of the department of Italian and Spanish paintings at the National Gallery of Art; and Aaron Wile, former associate curator in the department of French paintings at the National Gallery of Art
Guided Tours: Exhibition tours are scheduled for October 15, October 16, October 22, and October 23, 2026, from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.
Run time: Guided tours last 45 minutes. The exhibition itself has no visit duration specified.
Accessibility: The page does not provide event-specific accessibility information.