In the Rijksmuseum Print Cabinets: A Rotating Selection of Historical Prints and Drawings

This exhibition showcases a rotating selection from the Rijksmuseum's vast collection of over 750,000 prints and drawings. Because of the delicate nature of these works, the display changes every six months to highlight new stories, ranging from Roman street art and social satire to Japanese and European fairy tales.

The Rijksmuseum's print cabinet presentation offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the world's largest collections of works on paper. Due to the extreme fragility of these items, the selection is refreshed every six months, ensuring that visitors encounter different artistic narratives and historical contexts with each visit. The current rotation brings together diverse themes, including the sgraffito facade decorations of Polidoro da Caravaggio in 16th-century Rome, the satirical prints of 17th-century artist Giuseppe Mitelli, and the intricate developmental history of the aquatint technique in the 18th century. In addition to these focused displays, the exhibition highlights the recently acquired 17th-century Van Eeghen Drawing Book, a rare and fully intact collection of sketches featuring biblical scenes by Rombout Uylenburgh. The presentation also contrasts 19th-century European folk tales with the rich tradition of Japanese woodblock prints, illustrating how universal storytelling themes resonate across disparate cultures. This rotating exhibition format provides deep insight into the depth of the museum's holdings while protecting these sensitive works for future generations.

Admission to the exhibition is included with the museum ticket. Visitors are encouraged to book their tickets online through the official Rijksmuseum website. Entry is free for visitors aged 18 and under.