In the enchanting setting of the Prado Museum in Madrid, "Reversos," open until March 3, 2024, unfolds as a fascinating journey of discovery into the less-explored side of artworks, inviting visitors to transcend the boundaries of traditional art appreciation. Curated by Spanish naturalist artist Miguel Ángel Blanco, the project "exposes" the artistic heritage of the museum, unveiling the backs of a hundred paintings—a kaleidoscope of eras and styles breathing new life into ancient and contemporary masterpieces.
The exhibition begins with Velázquez's iconic work, "Las Meninas," one of the institution's treasures, featuring the contemporary interpretation of its reverse created by Brazilian artist Vik Muñiz in 2018. Visitors are then introduced to elaborate thematic sections revealing portraits and self-portraits of painters behind the canvas. A timeless and material-less dialogue unfolds, exploring the creativity of artists who painted on slate, copper, glass, ceramics, wax, terracotta, and even cork.







Among the surprises of the exhibition, elegant trompe l'oeil, intense snapshots, and forbidden images captivate the audience. The "Reversos" setup, with subdued lighting and walls painted in black, offers an unrestricted path of exploration accentuated by illumination above individual artwork pedestals, highlighting every detail of the recto and verso. Furthermore, the significance of examining the back of a work extends beyond the realm of art criticism; it is crucial for its valuation. A thorough examination of the less-visible parts of a canvas can reveal essential information about the artist, the creation date, and the origin, exposing hidden secrets of restoration and transformations over time. Each brushstroke, each sticker, and every mark narrate a unique story. Sometimes, creators use the back to note the title, place, or a serial number, providing precious details about the work's history.
Regarding determining the age of a painting, the color of the canvas itself can provide significant clues. Over the years, white or off-white canvases tend to yellow, and this change can be observed on the back of the artwork. Additional age details may emerge from the analysis of the frame or the back of a panel, where supplier stickers can provide information about the date and location of material purchase. This ties into the entire discourse of ownership transitions and movements. Galleries and art dealers often use labels to mark a work's transitions, and those affixed during exhibitions in prestigious museums or galleries add value to the artwork.







From the restoration perspective, analyzing the back of paintings is crucial. Simply put, a uniformly smooth back suggests good overall condition, while a wavy, warped, or stained back indicates deterioration.
Lastly, the back of a painting can conceal unexpected surprises. In 1989, for example, a painting purchased for approximately 4.00 euros at a flea market contained a copy of the United States Declaration of Independence. Needless to say, it was resold three years later for about 1.7 million euros.
Therefore, the "Reversos" exhibition initiates a series of profoundly important reflections for the sector, considerations that have been addressed by other exhibitions over the decades, including in Italy, such as "DIETROFRONT: Il lato nascosto delle collezioni" at the Uffizi Gallery in 2014. From now on, we can no longer claim to be rightly attracted only to the aesthetic and visible components of any work of art.