Bloodscape X (detail), 1987, Andres Serrano. Silver dye bleach print. Getty Museum, Gift of Robert and Dolores Cathcart. © Andres Serrano, courtesy of the artist and Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Brussels Bloodscape X (detail), 1987, Andres Serrano. Silver dye bleach print. Getty Museum, Gift of Robert and Dolores Cathcart. © Andres Serrano, courtesy of the artist and Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Brussels

Blood has both fascinated and repelled generations of artists and viewers. Medieval manuscripts testify to a rich visual culture surrounding blood: devotional, medical, genealogical, and as evidence of violence. In examining the meanings of medieval blood, this exhibition extends to intersecting contemporary conversations—artists have used the potent visual connotations of blood to explore issues of feminism, HIV/AIDS, and the science of DNA. Medieval and modern approaches to the representation of blood offer instances of both connection and rupture across time.

This exhibition is presented in English and Spanish. Esta exhibición se presenta en inglés y en español.

Selected Works

Exhibition Resources

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To request a checklist of objects, please contact: manuscripts@getty.edu.

Information on Getty Museum works of art can be found through a collection search

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