XXL Paper: Discover Monumental Works on Paper at the Rijksmuseum

This exhibition showcases some of the largest and most fragile works on paper from the Rijksmuseum's collection, dating from 1500 to the present day. Visitors can experience monumental pieces, including a recently discovered 23-meter-long hand-painted landscape and designs for stained-glass windows and tapestries.

XXL Paper presents an extraordinary collection of the largest and most delicate works on paper housed at the Rijksmuseum, spanning from 1500 to the contemporary era. The exhibition confronts the challenge of displaying pieces that are often too large or fragile for traditional exhibition formats, revealing hidden gems from the museum's collection. Among the highlights is a recently rediscovered 23-meter-long hand-painted landscape, originally part of a moving panorama known as the Giant Cylorama, which captivated audiences in the mid-19th century. Also featured are significant works such as a nearly 7-meter woodcut family tree of Emperor Charles V from around 1535 by Robert Péril, and contemporary contributions like Sanne Peper's 125x178cm photograph 'Gunkan Jima' and Jacobien de Rooij's drawing 'The night clouds are driving the forgotten along' (306x606cm). The exhibition also delves into the use of paper as a crucial working material for artists, showcasing large-scale cartoons – full-size design drawings for stained-glass windows and tapestries. These include 16th-century cartoons for the Sint Bavo Church in Haarlem and early 20th-century designs by Richard Roland Holst for the Dom Church in Utrecht, illustrating the enduring craft of stained glass over centuries. The restoration of the Cyclorama was generously supported by the Bank ten Cate & Cie. Fonds/Rijksmuseum Fonds.

Adult tickets are €20, with free admission for visitors aged 18 and under, and free entry for museum Friends. A start time must be booked in advance for all visitors, except for Friends of the museum.