In the Rijksmuseum print cabinets
Till 29 November
With more than 750,000 prints and drawings, the Rijksmuseum's collection is one of the largest in the world. Because of the fragility of the material, we rotate the selection in the print cabinets every six month, allowing us to share new stories each time. This presentation focuses on, among other things, Roman street art, social satire and Japanese fairy tales.
16TH CENTURY: STREET ART IN ROME — POLIDORO DA CARAVAGGIO
In the Rome of the 1520s, Polidoro da Caravaggio (c. 1499–1543) was one of the most sought-after artists of his time. He decorated palace facades with monochrome sgraffiti (layers of scratched plaster) depicting mythological and historical scenes, visible to everyone passing on the street. Many of these facade decorations have been lost, but drawings and prints keep them alive. They show how his innovative work spread and inspired artists across Europe.
17TH CENTURY: THE WORLD FOR SALE — GIUSEPPE MITELLI
No refined beauty here, but a glimpse of raw reality. The prints of Giuseppe Mitelli (c. 1634–1718) are considered forerunners of the cartoon. With humour and sharp satire, he depicts wealthy young men, street vendors and beggars in a world of stark inequality. Success, love, honour: almost everything is for sale. His portrayals of the fragility of human existence still hit home. Shared experiences remain recognisable, however great the distance in time.
18TH CENTURY: AQUATINT - Mimicking the wash drawing
Around 1760, artists discovered how to print not just lines but also flat tonal areas. They called it aquatint, because the result resembles a drawing filled in with diluted ink. Initially they printed in brown ink to enhance that effect. A well-known example is Francisco de Goya's The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (1797–1799), also on view in this presentation. Later, artists explored the technique further, eventually developing early forms of colour printing. This room presents a selection from the collection that traces that development step by step.
19TH CENTURY: FAIRY TALES
Who didn't grow up with fairy tales? Stories like Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Puss in Boots date from the 19th century, but go back to older European folk tales. Japan has a rich fairy tale tradition of its own, with stories about Momotarō, the peach boy, and the mighty Kintarō. The colourful Japanese woodblock prints and European chapbooks in this room show that fairy tales share many themes across the world, while each carries its own distinct cultural colour.
In the Rijksmuseum print cabinets
Till 29 November 2026
PRICES
- Adults: € 25
- Free for 18 and under
- Free for Friends
START TIME
A visit starts with a start time.
ADDRESS
Museumstraat 1
1071 XX Amsterdam
ACCESSIBILITY
Wheelchair access
Guide dogs allowed
Lifts on every floor
CASHLESS
In the whole museum you can only pay with your favourite digital payment method or credit card. This applies to all shops and catering outlets.
FAQ
Free cloak room
Photography allowed
Free WiFi