This episode of The Art Newspaper's podcast 'The Week in Art' covers three major art stories. Alexander Morrison visits the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge to explore 'Made in Ancient Egypt,' an exhibition revealing the untold stories and techniques of the people behind ancient Egyptian objects. Ben Luke speaks with Katlijne Van der Stighelen about the largest-ever exhibition of Baroque painter Michaelina Wautier at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, which will travel to the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The episode also features Robert Rauschenberg's 'Bed' (1955) as the Work of the Week, tied to the exhibition 'Five Friends: John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly' at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne.
The episode matters because it highlights significant exhibitions that challenge traditional art historical narratives. The Fitzwilliam show shifts focus from elite patrons to the skilled artisans of ancient Egypt, while the Wautier exhibition continues the vital rediscovery of overlooked women artists from the Baroque period. The Rauschenberg feature connects his iconic work to a broader circle of influential post-war American artists, underscoring the collaborative nature of that era's avant-garde. Together, these stories demonstrate how museums are expanding art history to include diverse makers and perspectives.